A $4 million Mega Millions winner has had his identity protected by the Colorado state lottery. The man has only been publicly identified as Donald B., and his photograph was not publicly released. The news of the anonymous $4 million Mega Millions winner comes at a time when many people are debating whether Powerball, Mega Millions, and other lottery winners’ identities should be made public.
The man played the Feb. 9, Mega Millions drawing and matched all five white balls, minus the Mega Ball for the second-tier prize. He had added the Megaplier to his ticket for an additional $1 and increased his winnings from $1 million to $4 million.
RT charissemarie Mega Millions Winning Numbers And Winners For Feb. 9, Next Drawing For $87 Million Jackpot,… https://t.co/BJox8VyMvi
— John Harris (@winthenextlotto) February 10, 2016
Colorado is one of the states that allows lottery winners to protect their identities. This has become a great concern, as many Powerball and Mega Millions winners have been targeted for crimes, scams, and become victimized after their wins were made public.
Yep, that’s a $4 million Mega Millions winning ticket, folks! Purchased at King Soopers in Loveland. Congrats! pic.twitter.com/9B3uTrG442
— Colorado Lottery (@ColoLottery) February 10, 2016
When you play Mega Millions, it’s important to understand that there are different laws that govern the way it is played in each state. Some states insist that all winners’ names become a matter of public record. Colorado has done an excellent job at protecting the identity of their lottery winners, and in turn, this helps increase their safety.
Most financial experts recommend that those who win the lottery resist the temptation to make sudden, drastic changes to their lifestyle and stay away from making outlandish purchases. When the Jan. 13 record-breaking, billion dollar Powerball jackpot swept across the nation, many people questioned whether the winners would be allowed to remain anonymous, once it was revealed that three winning tickets were sold in California, Tennessee, and Florida. The Tennessee winners have already made public appearances, and have subsequently been sued by one of the most notorious litigators in the country. The California and Florida winners have yet to come forward and claim their tickets. It is unclear if they are trying to avoid the public attention, or if something has happened and they don’t realize they are winners.
California, Tennessee, nor Florida r states where #Powerball winners can remain anonymous. So, we will meet winners eventually! @fox6wakeup
— Jessob Reisbeck (@jessob_reisbeck) January 14, 2016
RT charissemarie Would you carry a gun if you won the lottery? https://t.co/NK4MyGl9Na
— John Harris (@winthenextlotto) February 6, 2016
As there are nine ways to win Mega Millions, people can become millionaires, like Donald B. did, without necessarily winning the jackpot. If you play Mega Millions, Powerball, and other lottery games on a regular basis, you should take into consideration what you will do if you should win. Find out if you must go public in your state, and if there are laws that say you do need to come forward, speak with a tax attorney. There may be ways that you can meet the demands of the law while keeping your identity hidden. Some lottery winners choose to form a trust in order to make the name public, while keeping their identity secret. Many people find that it is best to tell few people as possible about winning the lottery, because no one truly knows for sure how someone will act if they find out you have become a millionaire.
Do you play Mega Millions and other lottery games? Are you concerned about what would happen if you won a large jackpot prize or a second-tier prize? Would you feel comfortable if your name and photograph were released publicly after winning the lottery?
[Photo by Andi Berger/Shutterstock]
