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CHICAGO (Reuters) - A 70-year-old retired Chicago-area man who described himself as a "regular Joe" will take home about $127 million after winning what lottery officials said on Tuesday was the biggest Illinois lottery jackpot.

Jesus Davila Jr. of suburban Naperville was handed a gigantic ceremonial check from the Jan. 16 Mega Millions drawing in an event broadcast on local television.

"You can't win if you don't play. I'm just a regular Joe, and I played," said Davila, a father of four and grandfather of four.

The Jan. 16 jackpot was $265 million if taken as an annuity, but Davila will take a one-time cash payment option, which after taxes totals about $127 million, the Illinois Lottery said.

Davila, a former professional driver, bought the winning ticket at Bucky's Express convenience store in Glendale Heights, another Chicago suburb. The store will get a $500,000 prize for selling the ticket.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Davila moved to the United States at the age of 6, according to a statement from the Lottery.

He was watching the numbers announced on the television at home and thought he had matched only the first five numbers on his single ticket and would get $1 million.

But his son rechecked and found all six numbers were matching.

Davila plans to share the windfall with his family, invest and donate to his favorite charities, the Lottery said.

"I would also like to a buy a big house with a really big lawn ... and a riding lawn mower," Davila said in a statement.

Illinois has not had a grand prize winner for the Mega Millions game since 2012, when a resident won a drawing that had a $218.6 million jackpot.

People bought tickets for the Jan. 16 drawing in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Davila was the only person to match all six numbers.

http://news.yahoo.com/regular-joe-wins-biggest-illinois-lottery-jackpot-003932496.html

Pretty touching. Good for him! What would you do with the money? Do you ever play the lottery?

(Reading through the comments in the article, seems a lot of people are concerned (not concern trolling, but actually concerned) about his well-being and whether he'll have lots of people asking him for money or potentially going after him in some more dangerous way.)

 

[Mohonky]

Time to get himself a 21yr old bride.

 

[RumblingRosco]

A 70-year-old retired Chicago-area man who described himself as a "regular Joe" will take home about $127 million after winning what lottery officials said on Tuesday was the biggest Illinois lottery jackpot.

Illinois has not had a grand prize winner for the Mega Millions game since 2012, when a resident won a drawing that had a $218.6 million jackpot.

Am I just failing at comprehending this? Isn't 218.6 > 127?

 

[AlexMogil]

Am I just failing at comprehending this? Isn't 218.6 > 127?

Badly written I think. Before taxes and annuity assumptions. 127 was his lump sum, 218 was her potential with annuity and pre tax.

 

[Brazil]

I'd never show my face on the press if I won that kind of money.

 

[ActStriker]

Am I just failing at comprehending this? Isn't 218.6 > 127?

$127m is the take home after taxes and stuff.

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Am I just failing at comprehending this? Isn't 218.6 > 127?

The Jan. 16 jackpot was $265 million if taken as an annuity, but Davila will take a one-time cash payment option, which after taxes totals about $127 million, the Illinois Lottery said.

.

 

[Evo X]

I don't play the lottery, but good for him.

With the astronomically low odds, I just view it as flushing your money down the toilet.

Besides, if I want something, I will work for it and earn it using my own abilities instead of wasting my life hoping for a ton of money to fall into my lap one day.

 

[Log4Girlz]

I don't play the lottery, but good for him.

With the astronomically low odds, I just view it as flushing your money down the toilet.

Besides, if I want something, I will work for it and earn it using my own abilities instead of wasting my life hoping for a ton of money to fall into my lap one day.

It ain't called the idiot tax for nothing

 

[Mohonky]

I like how in Aus everyone goes apeshit when powerball or the lottery reaches like $10-$12m.

Kind of like our gameshows. I remember living overseas and getting American gameshows, and things like wheel of fortune the lowest dollar card might be $1000, in Aus thats like the top dollar card.

 

[Joe]

I have a family member who won the lottery and he needed police escorts for several days because he was worried about his safety and people he hadn't spoken to in 10+ years immediately called him up and straight up asked for money.

 

[Nocebo]

I wonder how long it will take for him to get killed and or his family members get kidnapped etc.

 

[BY2K]

If I were him, I'd leave Chicago. They just painted a giant bullseye on his head.

I hate it when these things go: "HEY, THIS GUY JUST WON A SHITTON OF MONEY! LOOK AT HIM!"

 

[Memento Mori]

If I ever won the lottery I'd keep it secret. Why would you want to publicise that?

 

[Caribou]

I'd never show my face on the press if I won that kind of money.

In IL the winners have to come forward publicly.

 

[Dennis]

And now everyone in Chicago knows his face.

 

[Vyroxis]

I'd never show my face on the press if I won that kind of money.

Depending on the state, you may not have a choice. Which is complete bullshit, really.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Why didn't he wear a bear suit

 

[Shanlei91]

And now everyone in Chicago knows his face.

The face of Jesus.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

I was reading up on some lotto winners that spent it all. Hopefully regular joe can keep his vices to a minimum.

 

[Friend of Sonic]

This isn't a knock on him, but why does everyone go lump sum? I always said that I'd go the 20 year option because, even split up 20 ways, it's still an obscene amount of money. And the best part is, you could screw it up and go broke like most lotto winners do, but you get a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) chance when the new year rolls around.

 

[Vyroxis]

This isn't a knock on him, but why does everyone go lump sum? I always said that I'd go the 20 year option because, even split up 20 ways, it's still an obscene amount of money. And the best part is, you could screw it up and go broke like most lotto winners do, but you get a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) chance when the new year rolls around.

To be fair, lump sum makes sense when you are 70, since if he ends up in the grave before his 20 years are up he can't pass it on to his family.

As for everyone else, probably greed. They want it all right now, rather than later.

 

[Stereogatari]

"Regular Joe" or Jesus in disguise?

 

[Friend of Sonic]

To be fair, lump sum makes sense when you are 70, since if he ends up in the grave before his 20 years are up he can't pass it on to his family.

As for everyone else, probably greed. They want it all right now, rather than later.

His age is an excellent point. My assumption was his family would inherit the rest of his payments, but if not, that is pretty messed up.

 

[Calmine]

If it were me. I'd do what that guy in China did when he won the lottery and wear a full body costume.

 

[7DollarHagane]

A lot of those taxes go to education and other programs unless I'm mistaken. So a win for schools as well.

The lottery is harmless fun for most people who keep it in check and might buy a few tickets instead of buying a drink and snack at the gas station.

If you want to point at really nefarious and dangerous gambling, look at casinos.
The number of people who ruin their lives because of casinos is a thousand times greater.

 

[BeforeU]

Damn thats a pretty big amount. Good for him.

 

[electroshockwave]

A lot of those taxes go to education and other programs unless I'm mistaken. So a win for schools as well.

The lottery is harmless fun for most people who keep it in check and might buy a few tickets instead of buying a drink and snack at the gas station.

If you want to point at really nefarious and dangerous gambling, look at casinos.
The number of people who ruin their lives because of casinos is a thousand times greater.

You are mistaken. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9PK-netuhHA

 

[CitizenCope]

Regular old Joe. Does anyone under 70 ever win?
You guys who came in here just to tell us you don't play the lottery please give this guy a call and tell him how stupid it was of him?

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

Regular old Joe. Does anyone under 70 ever win?
You guys who came in here just to tell us you don't play the lottery please give this guy a call and tell him how stupid it was of him?

Lmao I was thinking the same thing.

"Hey guy! You should have just burned that dollar instead of playing!"

 

[Jamie OD]

His age is an excellent point. My assumption was his family would inherit the rest of his payments, but if not, that is pretty messed up.

Some lotteries are allowed to stop paying the remaining winnings if the winner dies before receiving the entire jackpot.

 

[Wedge7]

Good on him, hope he enjoys the new wealth and hopefully can really change the lives of his friends and loved ones in a positive fashion.

 

[Log4Girlz]

To be fair, lump sum makes sense when you are 70, since if he ends up in the grave before his 20 years are up he can't pass it on to his family.

As for everyone else, probably greed. They want it all right now, rather than later.

Because you can make way more money with a lump sum.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

In IL the winners have to come forward publicly.

I'd wear face paint, and change my na.. crap I don't know. Good thing I don't care for lottery and never will.

 

[FiggyCal]

He sounds like a Jim Norton character.

 

[HeartlessNobody213]

Yeah in most states you have to come forward, which like someone else said is bullshit. Best thing to do is already have a plan in place so after you show yourself, you can move right after.

 

[snacknuts]

Depending on the state, you may not have a choice. Which is complete bullshit, really.

I could be totally wrong about this, but I thought I read once that in a lot of these states, you can register a trust or similar financial instrument and have that entity claim the prize to keep yourself out of the public eye.

 

[Dark_castle]

Time to make a harem.

 

[Friend of Sonic]

Some lotteries are allowed to stop paying the remaining winnings if the winner dies before receiving the entire jackpot.

That's really terrible.

 

[CrankyJay]

His life is probably ruined now...most people can't handle such a sudden influx of money.

 

[TomShoe]

His life is probably ruined now...most people can't handle such a sudden influx of money.

Yep, poor guy. The amount of people that are going to have their hands out is going to be staggering.

 

[deejay8595]

Good for him!

 

[Scalibur]

He can finally afford a bigger boat.

 

[Robot Carnival]

I understand why some people dislike the lottery and I do agree that they should have more regulations regarding how the government spend those lottery money. but just like a lot of other things in life, you are responsible for your own action and should have get to know all the facts before jumping in. I know my chance is slim to none in winning the jackpot but I would still pay $10 to $20 everytime a big jackpot drawing comes around. I can afford it and I can get a little excitement out of it. to me that's fair enough. if I win it'll be fantastic of course, but even if not, I feel I got my money's worth already. it's a tiny chance and a dream I purchased and in the end that's all I expect. the problem only comes when you foolishly pour hundreds or thousands into the lottery expecting to win it big. that's not realistic and should be point out in a big sign when you buy lotto just like cigarette warningson the package.

"I would also like to a buy a big house with a really big lawn ... and a riding lawn mower," Davila said in a statement.

I like the winner in the OP. he's happy with simple things and I hope he get things setup with an advisor for all that money so there's a smaller chance of this win coming back to bite him.

Yeah in most states you have to come forward, which like someone else said is bullshit. Best thing to do is already have a plan in place so after you show yourself, you can move right after.

do you have to show your face at all or can I wear a disguise? and what's the reason of forcing people to show their identity anyway?

 

[Kinyou]

Regular Jesus

 

[TomShoe]

Do you have to show your face at all or can I wear a disguise? and what's the reason of forcing people to show their identity anyway?

It's meant to make the lottery more marketable so the lottery can get more people to play. Average Joes see other Average Joes winning and think, "Hey, that could be me." You have to show up in person and claim your winnings, but you can wear stuff that obscures your face, like large sunglasses and hats.

 

[snacknuts]

It's meant to make the lottery more marketable so the lottery can get more people to play. Average Joes see other Average Joes winning and think, "Hey, that could be me." You have to show up in person and claim your winnings, but you can wear stuff that obscures your face, like large sunglasses and hats.

I think part of it is also for the sake of transparency. If the lottery just said, "Someone won, don't worry about who," and no one ever actually saw a winner, it might raise suspicions that no one was actually winning and the money was just going to the state/lotto company.

 

[Mad Season]

I'd never show my face on the press if I won that kind of money.

agreed

 

[Servbot24]

I'd quit my day job and work on my own projects. I'd get my own apartment and a new computer. That's about it.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

Why would you be afraid to show your face? Do you feel as if you will be a target for criminals? Is there documented evidence that Lottery winners are targeted if they're revealed?