In a twist to the story of a $1.35 billion lottery win, the anonymous victor, known only as "John Doe," has filed a lawsuit against "Sara Smith," the mother of his child. The lawsuit, which has garnered significant attention, alleges that Smith violated a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by revealing the lottery win to the winner's family.
According to Daily Beast, The Mega Millions jackpot, which Doe won in January, was the fourth-largest in US history and amounted to nearly $500 million after taxes. The winning ticket was purchased at a gas station in Maine. From the beginning, Doe has been adamant about maintaining his privacy, a common practice among lottery winners who often face security and privacy concerns.
Court documents, as reported by Insider, indicate that Doe had taken measures to keep his win a secret, even from most of his family. In February, he and Smith entered into an NDA, which stipulated that she must keep the lottery win confidential until June 1, 2032, when their daughter reaches adulthood.
However, the lawsuit claims that Smith breached this agreement by informing Doe's father and stepmother of the win. This revelation reportedly led to other family members, including Doe's sister, learning about the jackpot.
The plaintiff is now seeking information on who else Smith may have told, with the lawsuit stipulating a penalty of at least $100,000 for each breach of the NDA.
The case highlights the challenges faced by lottery winners in maintaining anonymity. Andy Carter, a National Lottery advisor in the UK, told Business Insider that maintaining secrecy can be particularly challenging for winners of substantial amounts. He noted that some winners, especially those with marital issues, choose to keep the news from their spouses.
The lawsuit and the circumstances surrounding it underscore the complexities and unexpected consequences that can arise from winning a large lottery prize.
