A MOTHER and grandmother bought a life-altering lottery ticket and became the game’s first $1 million winner but couldn’t keep it all.
Lottery player Solange Villard is from Dorchester, Massachusetts, about 20 minutes south of downtown Boston.
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She tried her luck at a new instant ticket game called Jaws which debuted on March 26.
Villard bought her ticket for $10 at a convenience store and lucked out with a $1 million win.
She said she had bought two Jaws tickets before her major victory, and they each won $50 and $100.
This time her winnings topped those expectations.
The Millennium Store Inc. in Dorchester received a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Villard says she plans on using her winnings to buy a house while caring for her kids and their children.
But she couldn’t keep her whole prize due to strict regulations.
TWO OPTIONS
Players who win major lottery prizes must decide how they want to claim their money.
They can either receive a lump sum payment or annualized installments.
Each option offers its own set of pros and cons.
Annual payments offer an immediate payment followed by more each year.
This ensures a steady income stream for years, but the winner could die before collecting everything.
Also, tax deduction rates can rise as time goes on.
The one-time lump sum option offers the prize money immediately but means the player gives up a portion of their winnings upfront.
Top lottery winners in the US
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Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro– $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck– $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Unknown winner – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez– $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Villard opted for the lump sum option and received $650,000 before taxes.
Lotto chiefs and government officials have issued tax rules winners nationwide must follow.
For Massachusetts, significant lottery prizes are treated as gross income and taxed at a 5% rate plus surcharge.
The biggest blow comes from federal taxes though, as lottery winners are taxed 24% on prizes over $5,000.
LOTTO NEWS
Another lottery player from Massachusetts won a whopping $4 million on his scratch-off ticket but had to give up almost half.
Jeremy Bouchard bought his Jumbo Cash ticket on March 26 at a gas station.
Since he decided to opt for a one-time lump sum instead of the annuity option, he took home $2,600,000 before taxes.
The Powerball jackpot has spiked to $1.09 billion so don’t forget to buy tickets before the next drawing.
Also, find out why a Mega Millions winner from New Jersey must wait 30 years to get their prize or give up half.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
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