The winner of an astounding $1.35 billion lottery prize is taking legal action against the mother of his child, accusing her of disclosing his Mega Millions jackpot win to his family, according to court documents filed on Tuesday.
In January, the jackpot winner - known only as "John Doe" - defied the odds to secure the Mega Millions prize in the Maine State Lottery, ranking as the fourth-largest lottery win in US history.
Per NBC News, the man purchased the winning lottery ticket at a gas station in Lebanon, Maine.
After tax deductions, the lump-sum prize amounted to just under $500 million!
From the outset, the winner has been determined to maintain his anonymity. Court documents now reveal that he sought to shield his win even from most of his family members, per Business Insider.
In February, he established 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 June 1, 2032, when their daughter reaches adulthood.
The lawsuit asserts that despite the NDA, "Sara Smith" proceeded to inform the winner's family about the jackpot win. The documents allege that she contacted his father and stepmother by phone, leading to the revelation of the jackpot to various other individuals, including his sister.
Now, the plaintiff is demanding that she disclose every person to whom she divulged the secret, with a stipulated penalty of at least $100,000 for each violation of the NDA.
Lottery winners are often advised to maintain their anonymity and implement comprehensive measures to prevent word of their windfall from spreading. Some winners even keep their success hidden from their closest family members, particularly if they have personal or marital issues.
Financial advisor Eszylfie Taylor told Insider that a lottery winner should "keep your mouth shut".
Taylor added that winners who disclose their newfound fortune "just put a target on your back".
Additionally, Andy Carter, an advisor to winners of the UK's National Lottery, noted that preserving anonymity becomes increasingly challenging for larger jackpot winners, saying: "If you've won one million, it's easier to hide than a hundred million."
