Michigan Mega Millions Winner has to Share $38 Million with his ex-wife

Mega Millions Lottery ticket

How would you like to have to share your lottery winnings with your ex-wife?

One lottery winner had to do just that. Richard Zelasko with the $80 Million prize from the Mega Millions lottery jackpot in July 2013, and was ordered by the Michigan Court of Appeals to share his winnings with his ex-wife.

After taxes and fees, his total prize came to $38,873,628.00 USD and he had to share it with his wife - Mary Elizabeth Zelasko. They filed for divorce in 2011, but they were still waiting for legal arbitration with Richard Zelasko won the Mega Millions Lottery. Because the divorce was still in arbitration, the court ruled that Richard Zelasko must share the lottery winnings with his ex-wife.

Richard Zelasko's divorce was officially finalized in 2018.

$530 Million Mega Millions Winner in San Diego, California

Mega Millions Winner

The Mega Millions Winner has not come forward yet...

On Friday 07 June 2019, there was one winning Mega Millions lottery ticket sold in San Diego, California. The winner has not yet come forward as of 08 June 2019. The cash prize at the time of drawing is $530 Million USD. California is a great place to win in a lottery, because the lottery winnings are not taxed, however California does not allow a lottery winner to stay anonymous. The state of California does give lottery winners up to a year to claim their prize.

The winning numbers for the Mega Millions lottery ticket were: 17 - 19 - 27 - 40 - 68  Mega Ball 2

It is important that the winner of the latest Mega Millions to take precautions to stay safe, as lottery winners are often targeted by scammers. Some of these scammers pretend to be an old friend or a relative.

Anyone that thinks they are being targeted by a scam should immediately contact their local police.

U.S. Mega Million Lottery Grows to $1.6 Billion October 2018

U.S. Mega Millions

People want to know: How much is the lottery now?

After no winners were drawn on Friday, October 19, 2018, the U.S. Mega Millions lottery breaks a world record for a lottery at $1.6 billion. The last record breaking jackpot was $1.586 billion in the Powerball lottery. This is due in part to a change by the lottery organizers to lower the odds of winning, which went into effect a year ago (October 2017). The new odds were raised to 1-in-303 million.

The last Mega Millions winners came from California, there were 11 co-winners, and they were all co-workers. They shared $543 million.

The Mega Millions lottery draws winners on Tuesdays and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern time.

Winning the Mega Millions Lottery

If a Mega Millions lottery participant hits all 6 numbers to win, they can choose the lump sum payout immediately of $904 million dollars, or can choose $1.6 billion over a span of 29 years.

Did You Know?
The Mega Millions Lottery is played in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.

Protect Yourself Online from Scammers

Lawyer Jason Kurland - who has been employed by previous lottery winners - recommends that if you win the lottery, to wipe clean (or delete) your online profiles on social media so scammers have a harder time finding you.

Mega Millions Powerball Jackpot Reached $432 Million in January 2021

The Mega Millions Powerball jackpot reached $432 Million USD in January 2021 with the next drawing set for Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Win the Mega Millions Lottery Prize, but not with this Phishing Scam

Mega Millions lottery ticket (source: Flickr CC; by Robert S. Donovan)

The Mega Millions Lottery Phishing Scam Email Reads as Follows:

Attn Lucky Winner,

The Team of Mega Millions is Pleased to officially announce you as the Third place prize winner of the Ten Million ($10,000.000.00) prize draw sponsored by Publishing Clearing House. The total amount to be claimed for Fourth place is Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). 

Congratulations! You are one lucky winner.

Mega Millions will make all necessary arrangements for you to receive your prize.  Please contact your Prize Claims Agent or representative immediately to avoid delays as you can contact him via e-mail at: (gmorgan734@yahoo.ca) or through telephone listed below.

Your Claims Agent is: George Morgan (+19406031164)

Your Security Code is: H649PC32 As required by US Federal and State laws, your Security code and Prize information must be kept strictly confidential which means that you are precluded from discussing your win with 3rd parties such as (family members, friends and relatives). This is to prevent unlawful tampering and a means to reduce risks of fraud and scams from taking place.

As soon as we verify your identity and Security Code number from you, we will immediately release your total sum through wire transfer into your nominated bank account or as you wish us to remit your fund for you.

Once again, Congratulations from the MEGA MILLIONS team.

Eric D. Burns

Chief Financial Officer

Mega Millions Lottery

Would the Mega Millions Lottery Really Email Me?

Note from Blog Post Author:
It is important to note that no legitimate lottery would ever email the winner of the lottery. The lottery winner usually has to be the one to come forward to claim the lottery prize, otherwise it is forfeited. Lotteries are in no hurry to give away the prize cash. In fact, they would rather that no one claim the winning ticket.

Keep this in mind if you receive bogus emails claiming to be from the Mega Millions Lottery. It is most definitely a phishing scam.

Two Americans Win the Real $400 Mega Millions Jackpot

March 2014 - Two winning tickets for the sixth largest U.S. lottery prize were sold in Florida and Maryland. Florida sold its ticket at Sunoco on Merritt Island and Maryland sold its ticket at Lady's Liquor in La Plata.

The winning numbers were: 11 19 24 33 51 07

This one was the real lottery, and not a scam. Winners have 180 days to claim their winnings.