Lottery winner waited 50 weeks to pick up $30 million

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The press is politely calling this man "cautious". I, on the other hand, am calling him a dumb ass. Who waits that long to get the cash? What if he got hit by a bus before claiming his prize? By the time anyone found it, the year might have been up! Not to mention the fact he could have made the last year of his life pleasurable spending his loot. And what if someone had stolen it? Wouldn't he just kick himself for waiting if that happened? What is there to be cautious about that would take you 50 weeks? I'd understand wanting to get a few things in order before claiming a huge prize like that. I'd change my phone number, maybe consult an attorney about what I needed to do to protect myself, but all of that wouldn't take almost a year! If he was that hesitant about cashing it in, he coulda given it to me! Mr. Green

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Lottery winner waited 50 weeks to pick up $30 million
Last Updated Thu, 01 Apr 2004 21:35:40

TORONTO - A very cautious Southern Ontario man has won the largest jackpot in Canadian history.

Raymond Sobeski waited almost an entire year before coming forward to claim his prize of $30 million because, he says, he didn't want to "do anything rash."

He won the staggering prize on the Super 7 draw on April 11, 2003. Now the ex-farmer and self-employed computer repairman, says he's ready to become a multimillionaire.

When he was asked how he felt Sobeski - who will only say he's "in his 40s" - said, "A little numb, actually. A little surreal. It doesn't feel like it's really happening."

Sobeski bought the winning ticket at his local corner store in Princeton, Ont., near Brantford. When he found out he had won "I tried to stay calm, not do anything rash."

He says he checked and verified the numbers "about 200 times."

Sobeski held on to the ticket for so long before stepping forward that it was set to expire in less than two weeks.

Lottery officials say they've never had anyone wait so long to cash in, but they understand.

"You know what I think," said Kathy Pittman of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, "he's just a guy that takes his time to make any large decisions. And I guess, ultimately, this is the largest decision he'll ever have to make."

Canada's newest multimillionaire says he wants to take care of his elderly parents, his siblings, and do some travelling.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/01/canada/lottery040401

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Re: Lottery winner waited 50 weeks to pick up $30 million
I'd be at the claims office before they even finished reading the last number. I wouldn't even bother getting things in order. With money like that I could pay people to get things in order for me while I'm baking under the Caribbean sun!

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The guy probably waited because of all the legal work that had to be dones.

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In Germany, recently a winner waited nearly three months, collected the money - there had been long stories about this in the papers, notices in tabocco shops, at newsagents etc - just a week before the 'closing date'/last possibilty.

(Lottery winners stay anonymous here, btw, just the county/city is mentioned.)

He didn't want to rush, he said, had maked plans about the money (founded a fchariyt foundation).

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Miller- Agree. The man had to confer with his attorney and financial advisor first. If I were a betting person, I would wager that this guy will spend his money wisely, and get the most bang for his buck.

You hear too many stories about people who win the lottery, grab it quickly, and then fritter it away foolishly. It was also a good idea for him to get some time and perspective before he started spending. I think that this guy has a good head on his shoulders.........................but I wouldn't have waited THAT long!

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This dude reminds me a bit of Roy Cropper on Coronation Street. Still, he'll get the cash, and thankfully, in Canada, lottery winnings are not taxed....yet.

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Phoenix32890 wrote:

I think that this guy has a good head on his shoulders.........................but I wouldn't have waited THAT long!

That's my point! Get your affairs in order, make some plans, but come on....50 weeks to do that? I don't think so!

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it's not all unusual to have canadians wait for several weeks/months before picking up their winnings; i think we are just a fairly cautious lot - wondering if it is really true. btw lottery/casino winnings are NOT taxable under canadian tax laws. so all you hotshot gamblers : COME ON OVER ! hbg

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*tappin' hamburger on the shoulder*

Hey I'm a canuck. Ya won't see me waiting 50 weeks if I ever win any loot! Several weeks is one thing. 50 is quite another. I still can't figure out why claiming his prizer earlier would have been doing something "rash". Just don't understand it!

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Well, well, well. Something stinky in the province of Ontario. The truth comes out. Mr. Sobeski was divorced just months before winning the jackpot. And just a few months after winning, his ex had filed for child support. So, this low-life probably was trying to avoid paying money to his ex, who apparently has a tough time making ends meet. He likely waited until the last minute in an attempt to see if there was anything he could do to avoid giving any money to his ex. According to CBC's web site, he has left the country to "travel".

I knew it didn't seem right!!

CBC Story

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That CBC....truely dogged with their journalism. My aunt was a well-known family lawyer for years, and actually wrote law regarding deadbeat dads. She's a Supreme Court judge now. This crap happens all the time, sadly.

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I buy a lottery ticket for $1. about every six months. Leave it in my wallet until it starts to disintegrate, then turn it in to the inevitable NO and fork over another $1.00. It's a little talismanic behavior oozing out from my usually sane sense of possibilities.

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<shrugs>

the CBC story doesn't really say anything negative.

Quote:

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation makes security checks on lottery winners. It also checks with the Family Responsibilities Act to see if there are arrears in child or spousal support.

A spokesperson for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said "any amount owing would have been taken out of his winnings. Raymond Sobeski was paid his full $30 million."

Depending on the exact timing of things, there's no reason he would have owed any prior spouse anything.

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I didn't get all my info from the CBC site. I heard it as a story on the local news and they mentioned that his ex had filed for child support after he found out he had the winning ticket. (She didn't find out about his winnings until the rest of us did.)

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caprice wrote:

Well, well, well. Something stinky in the province of Ontario. The truth comes out. Mr. Sobeski was divorced just months before winning the jackpot. And just a few months after winning, his ex had filed for child support. So, this low-life probably was trying to avoid paying money to his ex, who apparently has a tough time making ends meet. He likely waited until the last minute in an attempt to see if there was anything he could do to avoid giving any money to his ex. According to CBC's web site, he has left the country to "travel".

I knew it didn't seem right!!

CBC Story

If that were me, I'd fight for custody of the kid and send her off to private school where she could get a good education and leave the ex out in the cold. Sounds like he was just trying to keep the ex from getting her grubby hands on the money. I'm sure he'd have no problem with his kid getting some of the money. If she didn't file for child support untill after he won than obviously she just wants to cash in.

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No, she didn't even know he had won, that's the point. She filed for child support not having any knowledge about his ticket because he didn't tell anyone until just before he came forward as the winner.

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Well, I wasn't able find anything suggesting he hasn't been paying any required child support, so I think I'll wish him a good vacation for now. It could all be very different than the Lottery Corp determined, but he looks reasonably clean, if secretive.

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I read the CBC article incorrectly. He was divorced after winning the lottery. So he was probably trying to figure out a way to keep the $30 million to himself.

The news story I saw on t.v. reported positive comments about his ex-wife from her co-workers, so she likely isn't some wench. They also commented that she had problems making ends meet. They showed her home. I know I am making an assumption here, but it must be nice for him to go off travelling whilst his children live in squalor with their mother. The t.v. news report also stated that his ex and his kids didn't know about the lottery winnings until a reporter showed up at their door.

As the CBC article stated,

Quote:

The latest marriage ended in divorce just a few months before cashing in on his lottery win.

Family law lawyer Linda Silver Dranoff says that might have an impact on his winnings. "We require full disclosure when there is a divorce settlement," she said, "and if he didn't give full disclosure he'll have to pay the pipe now, if he didn't pay it a year ago."

So it should be interesting to see what happens when he returns from his trip.

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If she was married to him, at the time he bought the ticket, but not at the time of the winning moment, is she still entitled to a % of the win?

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Lottery winner waited 50 weeks to pick up $30 million

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