Mega Millions jackpot in MD won by three teachers, who plan to continue working


At 2:20 the lottery director tells the story of how the winners found out they hit the jackpot

Remember that single mother of seven who was claiming she won the Mega Millions in Maryland but refused to share any of it with her coworkers who pooled their money and gave it to her to buy the tickets? Well she was full of crap, unsurprisingly. The real winners in Maryland were three teachers! They bought a bank of $60 worth of tickets together, and they scored with one of the three winning tickets for the largest jackpot in US history. Other winning tickets were sold in Illinois and Kansas. The Kansas winner claimed his or her winnings completely anonymously. (It depends on your state whether this is an option, it’s not in Virginia where I live.) That person came to the lottery office with a lawyer and a financial advisor and wouldn’t reveal their age, gender or occupation publicly. That’s actually really smart. The winner in Illinois has not yet stepped forward. (Can you imagine if they accidentally put their ticket through the wash or something? They might never know.)

The three teachers in Maryland revealed some general details about how old they are and what they plan to do with the money, but they’re keeping their exact identities a secret. They claim that they’re still going to work too. They each opted for lump sum payments, which total around $35 million a piece after taxes. Sweet. Here’s more, thanks to Radar:

On Tuesday, Maryland Lottery officials announced the real winners — two public school teachers and a school administrator, who pooled their money to purchase 60 tickets in three locations as a pool. (The winning ticket came from a 7-Eleven store in Milford Mill outside Baltimore.)

The three stepped forward Monday to claim their winnings, but all have chosen to remain anonymous.

Although their identities are being kept secret, lottery officials held a news conference Tuesday and showed off a giant check for $218,600,000 made out only to ‘The Three Amigos’.

We know the winners are a woman in her 20s, a man in his 40s, and a woman in her 50s.

One winner is a special education teacher, one is an elementary school teacher and the third is a school administrator.

Lottery officials said they do not work in the same school, but declined to say which district they work for.

All three worked second jobs outside of school to make ends meet, but said they plan to continue working despite winning the giant jackpot.

Each will have about $35 million (after taxes) wired into their bank account within the next 10 days.

Their plans include backpacking in Europe, a tour of Italy’s wine country and paying for a daughter’s college education.

All three also planned to buy new homes and invest, officials said.

“If it can’t be you, these people are precisely the people you would want to see win,” Maryland Lottery director Stephen Martino said.

The winning Maryland ticket is one of three nationally that split the $656 million jackpot, the biggest in Mega Millions history. The other winners in the March 30 drawing were picked in Kansas and Illinois. Kansas’ winner claimed a share of the jackpot Friday, but also decided to remain anonymous. No one has yet to step forward in Illinois.

Martino said the winners were amused by rumors of other winners, most notably Mirlande Wilson, who claimed she had the winning ticket outside of a pool she participated in with her co-workers.

“They were humored by it,” Martino said.

[From Radar Online]

That’s a really nice story, and like the Maryland lottery director said it’s just the type of story you like to hear. Congratulations to the three amigos on winning the lottery! Also, wouldn’t it be nice if teachers got paid what they were worth?

photo credit: Willma on Photocase

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51 Responses to “Mega Millions jackpot in MD won by three teachers, who plan to continue working”

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  1. hstl1 says:

    Mother F’ers!

    • msimmonsva22 says:

      lmao!!! my thoughts exactly especially about hearing of backpacking in Europe and touring the wine country

  2. someone says:

    this actually makes me happy. i mean we don’t know the exact details of their lives, but they seem deserving. and from what I hear, teachers simply do not make enough for the work they put in (given that they’re awesome teachers). i’m so happy this went to them over that crazy woman, although i feel bad for those 7 kids…

    • Molly says:

      I’m sure they plan to continue working as of now, but, as the daughter of a retired schoolteacher, I wouldn’t blame them for leaving their jobs and doing something else related to education, like administering grants/scholarships or starting a foundation. Because the hassle of being a teacher, even a good one (depending on what kind of school system you work for), is just not worth it. Way too much abuse and disrespect from all sides, especially considering the amount of work and energy it sucks out of a person.

  3. Esmom says:

    The fact that they’re educators warms my heart. Especially the special ed teacher…I know firsthand what angels they can be. My son would not be the happy, thriving middle schooler he is today without the hard work and support of some amazing special ed teachers.

    Anyway, I digressed. So happy for them. As the lottery guy said, they seem especially deserving.

  4. Anna says:

    Why would you even try to lie about something, that requires tangible, physical proof that you couldn’t possibly try to duplicate??? I only feel sorry now for that single mother b/c something is obviously not right with her in the head, and meanwhile 7 children depend on her for their own well-being.

  5. LindyLou says:

    Nice story. It’s cool that they can claim it anonymously. I’ve heard stories about lottery winners getting hounded by everyone they know – and complete strangers. That would make a really great thing happening to you turn into a miserable thing, I would think.

    • Eleonor says:

      Yes, I was discussing with boyfriend, and that’s what I will do: remain anonymous, doing something fancy for me(I would love to buy some good piece of art, nothing extreme like a Van Gogh, and some beautiful travel) and if it will come the time I will be able to provide to parents, but trying to keep my life just as it was.

  6. me says:

    It’s great they won, I am happy for them. I don’t understand why they want to continue to work? There are alot of recent college grads looking for jobs, lots of unemployed people with teaching degrees. If you’re that rich, why not just volunteer your time and give up your job to someone who needs it?

    • Newtsgal says:

      I agree!
      But, the 2 teachers I know have never been in it for the money. I would be surprized if they keep their salaries.

  7. Agnes says:

    yay! awesome! congrats to them!!! 🙂

  8. brin says:

    That’s a nice ending to that story.

  9. Maria says:

    yes, I agree…. maybe they won’t take a salary..or donate salary to charity?…. I think they should consider the fact that there are some looking for good work that need the income.. I do realize that people need a purpose..and being super wealthy won’t always give them a sense of meaning in life.

    • Princess Lizabeth says:

      I feel the same way. I support the teachers continuing to work for sense of purpose, however, there are a lot of people who could desperately use jobs. The teachers should perhaps think twice about collecting a salary now that they are millionaires…better yet, maybe they could find another collective way of helping children? Maybe starting a foundation in addition to doing hands-on work?

      Congratulations to them all; I am sure they will sort out all the logistics of their new wealth!

  10. Kathryn says:

    Yay! So happy for them!

  11. Newtsgal says:

    $5 bucks says not one of the people who were defending her and calling people like me a racist because I cast doubt about the McCrazy’s story will have the b*alls to come back today and say we were right.

    • msimmonsva22 says:

      I am black and I always thought the chick was a loony, insanity knows no background 🙂

    • anon33 says:

      I live in Baltimore and work right by that 7-11. I was actually afraid to comment on this story for those exact reasons Newtsgal, but honestly, if you live in Baltimore, we know that this is what goes on and this is what people do!! Everyone I know actually found this whole thing amusing because it was a classic “Baltimore hustler” type of story. David Simon couldn’t have written it better. 🙂

  12. The Original Mia says:

    So happy for them. They sound like a great group.

    Still don’t understand the crazy lady & why she would invite all that drama into her life. Her co-workers were seriously pissed at her. Now, she’s unemployed and the butt of jokes. Was it worth it?

  13. Talie says:

    I’d still work, too. I would just take better vacations and have my dream wardrobe.

    • fabgrrl says:

      Me too! I love my job. I would just pay off my student loans and my mortgage, renovate my kitchen, take some awesome family vacations, and then sock the rest away for my children’s education. And keep on working.

      • fabgrrl says:

        And you can bet your bottom dollar I would claim anonymously, and not tell ANYONE who didn’t need to know about my winnings.

  14. Laurie M. says:

    Really? The crazy McDonalds lady DIDN’T have the winning ticket? I’m shocked!! (end of sarcasm)

  15. Jazzmin says:

    “If it can’t be you, these people are precisely the people you would want to see win,” Maryland Lottery director Stephen Martino said.”

    AND I’M STILL HATING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. lucy2 says:

    I’m happy to hear this – sounds like 3 hard working people won some big money and are going about it wisely and anonymously.
    $35 mil each is actually a nice, manageable amount – life changing for them and their family, but not so insane that they go nuts and blow it all in a few years (hopefully).

    I kind of doubt they will all decide to keep working. Everyone thinks that until they see the zeroes on their bank statements!

    Everyone knew that crazy lady was lying. She sure caused a lot of trouble though, and potentially put herself and others at risk.

    • Lisa says:

      I bet they just keep working until the end of the school year, unless they love their jobs.

  17. Nancy LC says:

    Considering teachers only work part-time, i don’t see the big deal. they’ll still have plenty of time to pursue their interests. i’d love to see someone open an animal sanctuary, however. people are so selfish.

    • anon33 says:

      What? Teachers only work part time? Have you ever actually KNOWN a teacher? They may “get summers off” and “only work till 3” but EVERY teacher I have ever known actually worked until 7 or 8 every night, unpaid, and did other things in the summer that related to teaching. Where do you get off calling anyone in this story selfish?

    • L says:

      Gah. People who think that teachers ‘only’ work part time have clearly never been a classroom. You might only be contracted to be there from 7-3, but most are grading papers, preparing lessons, doing after school activities etc. And clearly since these teachers were working 2 (and in one case 3) other jobs to make ends meet-it’s not like the myth that teachers are making the big bucks is even remotely true.

      And teachers don’t get paid during the summer. So it is not 3 months of free vacation. It’s 9 months of full time work spread out over the year.

    • fabgrrl says:

      Woah, woah, woah! Teachers do not only “work part-time”. They may be in the classroom for (slightly) less than 8 hours a day, but they sure as hell work on things like grading and lesson plans the rest of the time! AND they are acutally only paid for 9 months out of the year. No pay in the summer months. Trust, my mother was a public school teacher. I witnessed all of this first hand.

  18. Jazzmin says:

    With all due respect to the ones saying they would continue working, after a couple of months you would quit. Getting up every morning to deal with the bullsh*t you deal now at work when you have 35 million dollars sitting in the bank? Your time could be spent doing better things. I would travel also and do a lot of philanthropic work. Things look different when you have millions; time spent at a 9 to 5 job does not look appealing when you’re a millionaire.

    • Samigirl says:

      My dad has worked for the same company for 30 years now. 2 years ago, one of his coworkers went to Circle K for a hotdog and coke, bought a lottery ticket on a whim, and won 1.7 million. He still works for that company. Some people are just workers.

      • lucy2 says:

        For $1.7 mil, I’d keep working too – that’s pay off the mortgage, live well, have a nice retirement money.
        $35 million AFTER taxes? No way! And I do love my job, but even more than that I’d love the freedom to do whatever I wanted every single day.

    • fabgrrl says:

      Hm, maybe you’ve never had a job you really love? No, I don’t like getting up in the morning, but that is just because of all the little things I need to take care of, besides work. If I could have someone else clean my house, do laundry, mow the lawn and run errands, I wouldn’t mind working in my office all day. Basically, I need a stay-at-home spouse, and I think my husband would happily quit his job if we had millions.

      • Jazzmin says:

        Fabgrrl, I was just stating that being a millionaire why would anyone be a “slave” to a 9 to 5 job? If you love to keep busy, there is a lot of philanthropic work you can do as a millionaire. Samigirl, I agree with lucy2 1.7 million is not a lot of money to quit working. Pay off mortgage, save for retirement but you have to continue working. Maybe back in the 50s or 60s 1.7 million was considered a lot of money.

  19. Turd Fergussen says:

    It’d be nice if GREAT teachers got paid what they were worth. It’d also be nice if shitty teachers got paid what they were worth, too.

  20. pinns says:

    OK hang on, I’m from UK so can someone explain this to me – why did they only get 35million each if they won 218million? In the UK and Europe, if you won 218 million, you would get 218 million, you have already paid tax when you bought your ticket!

    Do you really lose 52% in taxes in the US??? OMG, I would be using some of it to see if I could sue for the rest – what a rip off!!

    Or is it because they chose to take it all at once they lost so much? How much more would they have got if they had taken it over time? I’m amazed they ‘lost’ sooooo much, really galling and unfair for them, darn Govt already has taken a cut when they sell each ticket!!

    • Jazzmin says:

      Pinns, the lottery here in the USA is not the same as in England. If you win 200 million all of it is yours to keep. LONG LIVE ENGLAND!!!Here in the USA, When a person wins the lottery the lottery commission takes a big chunk (to fund schools, scholarships) then the government takes their cut (taxes) whatever is left goes to the winner. I am not going to get into what happens after you win, the government expects you to report and pay taxes on the winnings they already taxed you on.

    • Sca says:

      You get the option of getting the bulk of it over 27 years-OR you can get one lump sum which is less but it’s all at once. According to the finance people on tv, it’s better to take the lump sum in terms of taxes.

      They took the lump sum and split it 3 ways. The rest is after federal and state taxes (although some states don’t tax lottery winners) The federal government doesn’t get anything from lotto sales-those go to the states for education/senior care etc.

    • pinns says:

      Thanks Jazzmin and SCA, I appreciate you both taking the time to explain. Seems amazing, I wonder if it would still be the “largest lottery win ever” if you took into account the winners will never get the full amount?

      BTW, Jazzmin, I’m not from England – I’m Scottish! I don’t usually make the distinction and think of myself as British, but I just had to correct your wee typo there 😉

  21. Jennifer12 says:

    So glad some teachers won and I’m not surprised they want to keep teaching. I would. I work two extra jobs besides teaching to stay above water, but I love my job and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

  22. muppet_barbershop says:

    This is inspiring. I do wonder why they took the lump sum if they plan to keep working, but whatever. I hope they will all be happy and continue to work hard. <3

  23. Tara says:

    Wow. I love all of you that are defending teachers. I’m a second grade teacher, and I put in SO many hours for SO little pay. But I really love my job and what I do. Thanks everyone!

    • Leslie Knope says:

      I second what Tara said! As a fellow teacher, this story warmed my heart and all of the positive comments that followed really made me smile. I’m usually only a frequent visitor, but these reactions drove me to post. Thank you all!

  24. e.non says:

    amen to what the lottery dude said — these are exactly the people you hope will win something like this. hope they can at least quit one of their jobs… it’s also nice that it’s 3 friends who can support one another thru some sure to be tricky times ahead. just imagine all the ‘cousins’ descending on baltimore..

    man, i wish someone would wire $35 million into my bank account… 😉

  25. Mrs. Odie 2 says:

    I’m a teacher and I would keep working. I would hire an assistant to do all my paper grading, hire 4-10 classroom assistants to help students, and offer cash bonuses to students who were on time every day and never mouthed off to me.

  26. Lee says:

    Sorry folks but even though they are anonymous, that information spreads like wildfire. I am very happy for all three of them, but I give them to the end of the school year, then they will retire.

    • Lisa says:

      I agree. Of course they aren’t going to quit now. There are still two months left of the school year. After that I bet they will consider quitting.