- A Maine man won the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in January
- His daughter’s mother signed a non-disclosure agreement to keep his identity secret until 2032
- A new lawsuit claims she breached the agreement and told his parents about his winnings
The unknown winner of the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot is suing his daughter’s mother for violating their non-disclosure agreement and telling his parents about his $1.35 billion winnings.
New court filings revealed that the Maine Man award winner, identified as John Doe, sued the mother of his daughter, identified as Sara Smith, for six-figure damages after revealing to his family his new millionaire status.
On Friday, January 13, after three months without a winner, Doe was the lucky gambler who purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket – 30, 43, 45, 46 and 61, with a gold Mega Ball of 14 – at Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon , Maine.
He took home his winnings in a one-time payment of $723,564,144, almost $500 million after taxes. He would have been $52 million richer if he had bought a ticket just a mile across the New Hampshire border.
Shortly afterwards, on February 8, Smith signed a non-disclosure agreement to keep Doe’s identity as a jackpot winner secret until June 1, 2032, when their daughter turns 18 years old.
In January, an unknown Maine man won the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot of $1.35 billion, the fourth largest in U.S. history.
The winner of the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot would have been about $52 million richer if he had bought his ticket just 1.2 miles away in New Hampshire
The court filing stated: ‘Due to the unique safety, security and privacy concerns associated with winning the lottery, Defendant agreed to enter into a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) with John Doe to ensure the safety and security of John Do to promote. , defendant, and their daughter, and to prevent the irreparable harm that would result if the media or the public at large discovered, among other things, the identity, physical location, and assets of John Doe.”
Doe beat 1-in-302.6 million odds to win the $1.35 billion jackpot – the second-largest Mega Millions win ever, and the fourth-largest in U.S. history.
The contract also stated that Smith had to get written permission from Doe if she told anyone and that in the event of “an intentional or unintentional disclosure,” she had to provide written notice of what had happened.
According to the lawsuit, the mystery man learned in September that Smith had disclosed his status to his father and stepmother through one or more phone conversations.
Hometown Gas & Grill owner Fred Cotreau (pictured) where Doe purchased his winning ticket
Inadvertently, after Smith’s unauthorized disclosure, Doe’s sister also discovered that he was the winner of the Mega Millions.
“As a result of Defendant’s unauthorized disclosures, John Doe has suffered irreparable harm, and there is an immediate and imminent danger that John Doe will continue to suffer irreparable harm for which there are no adequate remedies,” the court filing said.
Now Doe is suing Smith for $100,000 per unauthorized disclosure and is asking the court to impose an injunction against Smith to prevent her from further violating the confidentiality agreement.
It is unclear whether his father, stepmother and sister are considered separate revelations.
The mystery man’s attorney, Gregory Brown, declined to comment.