Pittsburgh jackpot winner takes his time

Drawing Date: 5/20/2014

August 28, 2014 - Carl Szott, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, today claimed an $86.7 million Mega Millions jackpot from the May 20, 2014, drawing.

It is the first jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket sold by the Pennsylvania Lottery and the fifth-largest prize awarded in the Lottery’s history.

Lottery Executive Director Sil Lutkewitte today presented a ceremonial check for $86,755,350 to Mr. Szott, holder of the single jackpot-winning ticket from that drawing. Szott was accompanied by his wife and several family members.

The ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 10-40-63-64-69, plus the Megaball, 07, to win a prize of a $149 million annuity, or $86.7 million cash, less 25 percent federal withholding. This jackpot had started growing in early April and rolled 12 times.

“Winning the jackpot has been a surreal experience,” Szott said. “We hope that very little in our lives will change; we are really excited to be able to spend more time with our children and grandchildren.”

Szott noted that he waited 100 days to claim the prize in order to “make sure we were doing everything right.”

Szott purchased the ticket at White Oak Gas & Grocery, 1100 Fawcett Ave., White Oak, Allegheny County. It was a Quick Pick ticket. The store, a Lottery retailer since April 2012, earns a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

This morning, Szott presented the Mega Millions ticket for validation at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County. Lottery officials confirmed it was the jackpot-winning ticket after examining the ticket and executing proprietary security measures.

“I’m very glad to introduce Carl Szott as the Pennsylvania Lottery’s very first Mega Millions jackpot winner,” said Lutkewitte. “This jackpot is also the fifth-largest prize in Pennsylvania Lottery history.”

Since the Pennsylvania Lottery joined the multi-state game in early 2010, Mega Millions and Megaplier sales have generated more than $164.5 million in proceeds to support benefits for older Pennsylvanians.

The odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1-in-258,890,850. The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1-in-14.71.

Listening to the radio the morning after the drawing, Szott heard that the jackpot-winning ticket had been sold in his area. When he realized that the numbers read by the announcer matched those on his ticket, he was “in shock.”

“Fortunately, I was pulled off the road when I heard the numbers,” Szott said. “As it sunk in that I had won, I immediately said a few prayers.”

Szott said he waited a few hours to collect his thoughts before calling his wife to share the great news. The couple then decided to keep the news to themselves, not even sharing it with their children until a whole-family vacation later in the summer.