Man who won $1.35 billion lottery jackpot sues daughter’s mom for revealing win to his family
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images / Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Whilst winning millions on the lottery might be your dream come true, for one father in Maine, it has proven to be a nightmare-turned-reality.
The lucky man - who has opted to keep his identity a secret from the public - won a colossal sum of $1.35 billion on the Mega Millions cash draw back in January.
Hoping to keep the exciting news under wraps from the world, the only souls he told was his daughter's mother, from whom he is separated.
Advert
He is said to gave given the mom strict instructions to keep his winnings a secret from his daughter until June 2032, when their little girl turns 18.
In fact, the doting dad was so adamant that he wanted to keep the news on the down low that he made her sign a non-disclosure agreement.
In a lawsuit obtained by the Daily Beast, the media outlet reported that the mother - identified as 'Sara Smith' - had agreed to sign the NDA and keep her ex's prize money a secret until the time comes.
According to People, the man - who identified himself as 'John Doe' in the lawsuit - opted to receive his jaw-dropping prize in one, enormous lump sum of $723,564,144 (after taxes), as opposed to in instalments.
Business Insider reported, however, that if the woman in question ever mentioned his lottery win, she'd have to inform him she broke the news within 24 hours.
Despite her promise, the mom controversially told his entire family anyway, quickly getting on the phone to tell his father and stepmom.
In a case of Chinese whispers, this led to his sister finding out.
The lottery winner is now asking for the mother of his daughter to reveal who else she informed about his impressive cash prize.
He is also seeking a staggering $100,000 minimum for each time she violated the NDA, the Daily Beast noted.
This - quite frankly, rather amusing - news comes just weeks after a seven time lottery winner opened up on the key tips that helped him win so many times.
Richard Lustig from Orlando, Florida, has scooped big prizes in seven state-sponsored lottery games from 1993 to 2010, with his wins totalling more than one million dollars.
He said: “The three things you can do to increase your chances of winning a lottery game is to pick your own numbers and stick with them every time; set a budget; and never spend rent or grocery money to play a lottery game."
The Florida man has managed to take home an impressive $1,047,091.92 in winnings.
Most of this came from one win on 23 January 2002, which scooped him an impressive haul of $842,152.91.