$451 Million Mega Millions Winner Retires at 20-Years-Old
Monday January 15th 2018A 20-year-old $451 million Mega Millions jackpot winner collected his prize on Friday and promptly announced his ‘retirement’ from a job at a company that carries out background checks for employers. Shane Missler of Port Richey, Florida was the sole top prize winner on the night of Friday, January 5th, when he matched the winning line 28, 30, 39, 59 and 70, with Mega Ball 10.
Mega Millions Winner
Missler opted for the cash lump sum of $281.8 million, rather than the full amount paid over a 29-year annuity, and claimed it through a trust called Secret 007 LLC. The 20-year-old Boston Celtics fan arrived at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee on Friday to finalize the details of the win, which came on a Quick Pick ticket bought at a 7-Eleven in his home town.
His plans for the cash range from looking after his family to pursuing “a variety of passions”, having fun, and doing “some good for humanity,” he said in a statement. Missler was accompanied by this father and a lawyer, Walt Blenner, who confirmed his client would retire from his employment.
Although the minimum legal age for Mega Millions players in Florida is 18, there are three states in which Missler would not be allowed to play. Arizona, Iowa and Louisiana all require their ticket holders to be 21 or older.
A Mega Millions First
Missler’s win was not just notable for his youth; it was also the first time a player had hit the jackpot since a host of changes were made to Mega Millions in October 2017. The cost of a line doubled to $2 and the starting jackpot rose from $15 million to $40 million, with the intention of helping the jackpot grow larger more quickly. The $451 million payout came as a result of 23 rollovers since two tickets shared a $42 million pool on October 13th 2017.
What You Should Do When You Win Mega Millions
Mega Millions jackpot winners should sign the back of their tickets and stow them in a safe place when they discover their good fortune. It is also advisable to seek out financial and legal experts to help you deal with your newfound fortune.
In his statement, Shane Missler thanked those who had helped him come to terms with his fortune. "Although I’m young, I’ve had a crash course this week in financial management,” he said, “and I feel so fortunate to have this incredible wealth and team behind me."
Although many lottery winners celebrate with champagne, Missler is too young to do so under Florida state law. Instead, Missler told his father the good news over coffee the morning after the drawing.
Next Mega Millions Jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot is worth $50 million ahead of Tuesday’s draw and you can buy tickets at authorized retailers in each participating state. You can also choose your numbers online now follow in the footsteps of Shane Missler by collecting a giant check.
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