$1.35bn Mega Millions Winners Sues Ex for Breaking his Anonymity

If you won a big lottery prize, would you tell everyone about it or remain anonymous. It’s a difficult decision to make.

A man from Maine, USA, won a $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot this January. He didn’t want his identity to be revealed to the general public. However, that desire hasn’t gone as he planned. He’s now threatening to sue his ex after she told his parents he was the jackpot winner.

His win was the fifth highest jackpot won in Mega Millions history. He also decided to accept his fantastic win as a one-off payment of just over $723 million.

The Mega Millions winner lives in a US state where it’s not possible for lottery winners to remain anonymous. To get around this, a limited liability company called LaKoma Island Investments was set up. The company then claimed the jackpot thus allowing the actual winner to stay anonymous. Well, that’s what he believed would happen.

Non-disclosure agreement

A non-disclosure agreement was drawn up to help protect his anonymity. The aim was to “promote the safety and security” not just for himself but also his then partner (identified as ‘Sara Smith’ in the lawsuit) and their daughter.

This reportedly prevented her from revealing anything about his win until the year 2032. For doing so she would receive “support and ongoing security resources.”

He claims that his ex was the only person he’d told about his success. However, in September it’s claimed that she phoned his father and stepmother and told them all about his incredible slice of luck. They then told others including his sister.

There have been calls by several lottery winners for more US states to allow anonymity. One key reason for this is because of the fact that scammers can target winners.

Damages requested

This Mega Millions winner is now asking for at least $100,000 in damages plus the payment of any court fees. This amount is for each of the “unauthorized” disclosures of his new-found wealth.

Friday’s Mega Millions draw has a $308 million jackpot.

Buy Mega Millions tickets from Lottery24.