The individual who won a record-breaking $1.35 billion Mega Millions lottery in January is taking legal action against the mother of his child, claiming that she disclosed the win to his family. Court documents reveal that the winner, referred to as “John Doe” in the lawsuit, has been determined to remain anonymous. The immense jackpot, which was acquired through a ticket purchased at a gas station in Maine, amounted to nearly $500 million after taxes.
According to recently filed court papers, the winner has been attempting to preserve his anonymity from the beginning. It appears that the majority of his family members were unaware of his victory. In February, the individual sought to protect his identity by entering into a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the mother of his child, identified as “Sara Smith,” which stipulated that she must keep the jackpot a secret until their daughter reaches the age of 18 on June 1, 2032.
Efforts to contact the mother for comment were unsuccessful, and the plaintiff’s lawyer declined to provide a statement to The Daily Beast, the first outlet to report on the lawsuit. The NDA specified that if the mother accidentally or deliberately disclosed the win before the agreed-upon date, she would be required to inform the winner within 24 hours.
However, the lawsuit alleges that the woman proceeded to inform the winner’s family regardless. She reportedly called his father and stepmother, leading to the revelation of the win to several other individuals, including his sister. The plaintiff now demands that she disclose the full extent of who else she informed, with a penalty of at least $100,000 for each violation of the NDA.
Lottery winners are often advised to maintain their anonymity and establish comprehensive measures to prevent the information from being leaked. Some winners, particularly those experiencing marital difficulties, may even keep the win a secret from their spouses. However, it becomes increasingly challenging to remain anonymous when dealing with massive winnings, as larger sums attract more attention.
