Imagine scoring big in a lottery, only to find out that a massive chunk of your winnings is getting snipped off due to federal and state tax withholdings. That's a bitter pill swallowed by many lottery winners, but it doesn't always take the shine off their windfall. Here are a few stories of recent lottery winners who found their silver linings, despite the tax cut.
Bolch’s Black Titanium win
Bolch was one lucky player who struck it rich in the Black Titanium scratch-out game. She opted to receive her fortune in a lump sum, raking in a tidy sum of ,509. Sadly, she had to part with nearly ,000 due to tax withholdings.
Her plans for the remaining amount? She intends to use her winnings to clear her car debts, a sensible step towards reducing her financial burden.
Dziurgot’s lottery win
Akin to Bolch's experience, another winner, Dziurgot, found herself in a similar situation. She had the option of claiming ,000 annually for life from her lottery win but made the decision to opt for a lump sum of ,000. This choice resulted in her losing almost 20% of her prize to taxes.
Despite the significant tax cut, Dziurgot and her husband have a fair plan for their winnings. They aim to use their fortune to become debt-free and secure their future with proper savings.
Portland’s .3 billion Powerball winner
Another massive lottery win took place in Portland, Oregon, where a lucky person bagged a whopping .3 billion Powerball lottery. The golden ticket was purchased at a Plaid Pantry convenience store, which is set to receive its own reward of ,000.
The identity of this enormous jackpot winner is yet to be confirmed. Oregon law stipulates that lottery winners have to be publicly identified, so it will be a few weeks before their claim is verified and their identity revealed.
Biggest Lottery win in US history
While these stories are fascinating, they are dwarfed by the record for the largest ever lottery win in US history. The record is held by Edwin Castro from California, who won an unprecedented .04 billion.