Kansas Lottery Introduces 'Anonymous,' the Mega Millions
Multimillionaire
The winner of Kansas' largest jackpot prize ever, Anonymous,
was introduced this afternoon in a news conference held at Lottery
headquarters in Topeka. The winner was one of three players
nationwide to purchase a winning ticket in the world-record
breaking $656 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing Friday, March
30, 2012. The Kansas winner plans to take the cash option, $157.9
million.
"We were so thrilled to meet with the winner earlier today and
welcome the winner to the Kansas millionaire family. Even though
the winner has elected to remain anonymous, there is great reason
for celebration across the state. This jackpot is a mega win for
not only the prize winner, but Lottery retailers as well as the
State of Kansas," said Dennis Wilson, Kansas Lottery Executive
Director.
The jackpot will be split evenly among the holders of the three
tickets that matched all six numbers: 2-4-23-38-46, Mega Ball 23.
Those tickets were bought in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland.
The winner purchased the lucky jackpot-winning Mega Millions
ticket at Casey's General Store 2668, located at 940 N. Main St. in
Ottawa. For selling a jackpot-winning ticket, Casey's 2668 will
receive a $10,000 selling bonus from the Kansas Lottery. Robert
Pizzini, District Manager, was present at the press conference held
today to accept the bonus check for the convenience store.
The winner had the choice of taking the annuity option of $218.6
million, which is paid in 26 installments, or the cash option of
$157.9 million paid in one lump sum. After taxes the winner
will receive a check for $110.5 million.
Federal income withholding taxes (25%) on the prize are
$39,470,517.50; state income withholding taxes (5%) amount to
$7,894,103.50; bringing the total taxes withheld to
$47,364,621.00.
The jackpot amount was originally estimated at $640 million but
with sales from all 44 Mega Millions jurisdictions calculated and
totaled, the final jackpot amount for the drawing came to $656
million dollars. That record-shattering amount was the result of
unprecedented sales in all jurisdictions where Mega Millions is
played.