Winning $319 million is life-changing—even if you have to split it seven ways. So we're guessing that the winners of Friday's $319 million Mega Millions jackpot, who are rumored to be NY State workers, are trying to get things in order and consulting with lawyers and financial planners (like other big winners) before identifying themselves to the state lottery offices. Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman told the Post, "Ninety-nine percent of the people coming in winners do it that way these days. Three-hundred and nineteen million is an unimaginable amount of money. Most want a plan before the money enters their hands."
It's believed that the group works for the state's IT department (the ticket was sold in Albany) and the Post says each person "can expect windfalls of $19.1 million each after taxes, plenty to keep their balance sheets in the black for years to come. Sources told The Post the winners include a 54-year-old man who earned about $75,000 in 2010 and a woman, 41, who earned $85,000." A Public Employees Federation union rep characterized the winners as "all just middle- class folks."
Over at a deli where the seven suspected winners usually have lunch, the Times-Union found people dreaming about what they'd do with a lottery jackpot, "I would probably take at least a year off and spend time with my kids," and some regrets they didn't buy the ticket at Coulson's, where the winning numbers were sold. Another deli customer was happy simply because "It puts us on the map for something besides bad movies."
