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Subscribe to RSSA group of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority workers share $172 million jackpot.
Cheers and songs broke out at the Philadelphia transit agency offices on Thursday when 48 employees learned they had literally hit the jackpot - the $172.7 million Powerball lottery prize.
Divided equally, the group of administrative employees of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority would each get more than $2.2 million, minus taxes, in a one-time cash payment. Philadelphia's NBC10.com reported that a co-worker said the group had decided on the lump sum.
"I know that when one of the winners came to the particular floor that I'm on, there were songs of 'For he's a jolly good fellow,' and a lot of clapping and hugs," said Jerri Williams, director of media relations for the agency.
The winners all worked at the Center City headquarters of the authority, and most worked on the 11th floor, NBC10.com reported. They bought the winning ticket at one of the city's biggest commuter train stations across the street from their office. The owner of the newsstand inside The Gallery that sold the ticket got a $100,000 bonus check Thursday from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
They range from secretaries to managers.
More on this story at Philadelphia's NBC10.com
Williams said word of the win started spreading shortly after 2 p.m. when one of the members of the lottery pool checked the numbers.
"It was very exciting," Williams said. "We're very happy for them. It couldn't have been a nicer group of people."
For now, it's also an anonymous group of people. Williams said the pool members do not want their names revealed.
A Powerball spokeswoman confirmed there was only one winning ticket, but said the identity of the winner had not yet been verified. The Powerball website said the winning ticket was from Pennsylvania.
"They've worked together for years," co-worker Jeff Coppedge, who knows some of the winners, told NBC10's Denise Nakano. "They were on the same floor or if someone got a different job on another floor, the core members kept pooling their money together."
Coppedge says they deserved to hit the jackpot. "Yeah, they do need a break. They're right at retirement or they've been hanging on."
"I hear one of the guys has three kids just coming out of college," Williams said. "And he definitely said it's nice to know the tuition bills will be paid. He was pretty happy about that."
This artcle includes reporting from Philadelphia's NBC10.com and Reuters.
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Leave a Comment:
48 millionaires in one department. When the resignations start flowing, it's going to suck to be the manager!
This is great news, 48 changed lives vs. 1.
This is almost better than 1 person winning a ton of money. These people can treat themselves, pay off bills, enjoy life and be able to share the experience with fellow co-workers. It seems like so many lottery winners become secluded & isolated because of their wealth. And yes, it's a substantial amount, but (HOPEFULLY) not enough for them to quit their jobs and make terrible decisions with it. It's like a huge bonus... spend wisely, my friends. Have fun and remember to buy American!
I just know that I'm related to one of the winner's!! Auntie/Uncle--here I am...
I congratulate my colleagues, whoever they may be.
This is definitely a nice windfall for these employees, but unless they are pretty close to retirement age anyway, it is not likely enough for them to quit working. After taxes they will end up with something like $1.4 million. While this is a nice chunk of change, in this day and age it is not really enough to retire on unless you are at least in your mid 50s. Any younger and it would not be easy to stop working all together. You could probably do it, but you would not exactly be able to live in luxury. What the money will allow them to do is pay bills, relax and enjoy life a little, maybe take that trip they always wanted to take but could never afford, and take care of setting themselves up so that when they do eventually retire they will be able to truly enjoy their retirement. This is the kind of money that can relieve financial stress, but is not going to mean wholesale changes in one's lifestyle. It is great that this jackpot is going to a big group of people so that they can all breathe easier rather than all going to one person who would have a drastic change in their life as a result, and not always for the better.
48 job openings coming up!
Decent ones, too, department of transportation!
Also, JS, I'm pretty sure I could find a way to live off 1.4 million right now (I'm in my 20s). Here in CA, you can pick up houses all day long at 175K that rent for 1500 a month... I would buy 20, mortgage them out, get $500.00/month (after taxes and expenses) each in profit... 10K a month? I could live with that.
JS, in PA the only taxes oaid on in-state lottery winnings are federal. That should amount to about 25% or so. Each of these winners should get about $1,600,000.00. But what difference does $200,000.00 make? They should all be careful of their new "friends & family". They should keep their jobs for now because this money isn't as much as it seems...
yetanotherick go to the channel 10 newslink, their were Managers who also won, so why would that suck?
Why does it seem most people believe ALL government workers make tons of money? The sad part is: you can actually look up what the real pay is instead of making broad generalizations that every government employee is well off.
Hoboken thinks that government workers should work for pennies. After all, the government is bad right?
BS. I am a federal employee. GS8. I don't have "plush" benefits. I have an unmatched 401k (some private companies do match). I have medical and dental (so? private companies offer these and I pay quite a bit for them). I pay into retirement (just like a lot of people do).
And I work my butt off for the pay I get.
So, tell me, where are all these plush benefits? I feel like I am being cheated now. And don't tell me I don't work for my living.
Now all should resign and let some unemployed, qualified people who need jobs fill the vacancies.....
Congrats to all the winners!!! That is awesome!
take,
What if people want to continue to work? It's their individual choice to do so. Many of them would probably quit working and that is their right just as those that want to continue working can do so.
Congradulations to the winners!
If you go to the TV website it says several were close to retirement. It is not a bad idea to quit. But then again a younger person would probably elect to stay. The ones that are already close will go and regardless of whether it is 1 or 10 that leave their will be a FEW JOB OPENINGS.
There was a gentleman many years ago that worked at the Air Force Technical Applications Center that won the lottery and he kept working because he was only a couple years from collecting his retirement. He worked all his life paying into it, he might as well collect it.
Good for them! Nice to see some hard working people get something good.
Depending upon their ages, they may be too young to quit working. 2.2 mil less taxes is not a lot to last a long lifetime (not that it's not a lot of money depending upon life style) but one could go through that and then be looking for work in their old age.
Does this mean we citizens of PA don't have to continue paying their bloated wages, medical benefits and crazy pensions? Sure hope so!
I wonder how much the union dues will be on that income.
I'd like to know what 'bloated wages, medical benefits and crazy pensions' are to you. Is that just some BS broad generalization that you made up?
Please, provide a link or some other proof to back up your otherwise fictional statement.
Another "all government workers are overpaid, no matter WHAT they actually make" comment. How did I know these were coming?
Dang it ......I bet there all Phillies fans too!!! Grrrrrr !!!
And again even if she did not say those things, she is the one in charge of the calssroom, who is in it
Actually - she isn't - the PRINCIPAL of the school is in charge of who is in the classroom and is responsible for making sure that those who are there do their job.
In fact - voices on that tape can be identified - and - if it is shown that this Teacher's voice was not on that tape - or - that she was not even in the classroom during the remarks - then - this guy can be sued by the Teacher. It may be - that others where in charge of the classroom that day - and - this father better be sure of what the is saying - or - he will pay.
Two local parents were sued by a Teacher for making unfounded accusations against him - they ended up mortgaging their homes to pay the judgement against them.
Computer blinked - and - this post ended up in the wrong place. Sorry.
"each get more than $2.2 million, minus taxes".. If I do the math, I show $3.6 million each, minus taxes - this means they should each get ~$2.2mil AFTER taxes
Chris, The numbers of 2.2 b4 taxes is based on if they take the lump sum, which is usually 62% of the total winnings. Your calculations are correct if they take the money over a 25 year term (which would be less than $100,000 per year each after taxes, still not chump change).
Either way, I was in Philly on Sunday and bought tickets in the same station thinking that no one in PA had won in awhile. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!! Happy for them though. Have fun everyone.
Wrong! Don't forget....they are taking it as a lump sum. 1.4 mil each is probably closure to the real figure each will get. If invested properly and they continue to work will loeave themselves a nice nest egg for retirement.....but as usual, some will pi$$ it way and will be broke in a matter of months.
missamy, aren't you cousin to 1 of them?
This is so awesome! I am thrilled that this happened in my backyard. I work across the street from this building and I may know some of those people. God Bless them!!
Congratulations folks. Keep a level head and spend/invest the money wisely.
Good news x 48= A nice news story!
And 47 of them will be bust within 3 years from partying.
One of the most overplayed, and untrue, scenarios there is. The stories about lottery winners losing it all are told for one reason---it is news!
This would make one hell of a great study to see where they all end up in 5 years
welcome to the 1 percent now lets see how they feel about raising there taxes.
Just great to know there's a lotta happy folks in Philly this a.m. Happy for you my friends and wish you well!
Refreshing change of pace this story.
Since the workers admitted they bought the ticket when they should have been working, the winnings should go to the city...not the workers.
They could have bought the tickets after hours or on lunch break. You dork.
Mike Fillmore, There is one of you in every crowd. In school you were the dork that told on everyone else. You were not invited to parties because you are a narc. Even Transit workers get breaks and lunch in 2012.
Oh, they do not work for the city. Since the article did not name the employer, I will. It is SEPTA (Southeastern Pa Transportation Authority). The transit agency covers five counties in PA and runs commuter rail into NJ and DE...
When Mike Fillmore was in the high school marching band, his mother would stand up and shout, "Look! My boy is the only one in step!"
Congratulations!!! I wonder if the unemployed people in Philly are smart enough to go apply for a job at this place...there will be openings soon.
good stuff :)
I'm not sure why these people would quit their jobs unless they're already close to retirement. 1.5 million after taxes could still disappear. Look at all the broke athletes.
That's great for them - I'm happy that so many benefited from this win. We play at work whenever the jackpots are high - it would be nice to win just enough because our state jobs are being outsourced within the next year. Many older employees can't live on the state retirement alone, many aren't old enough for Social Security, many others are younger and have even less . . . a sad situation, so we play but so far not too lucky. Nice to dream about though . . . .
There's gonna be a party in Philly tonight. Congrats folks!
I only hope that some employee that never contributed to the pool claims they did and want their share of the money that would only result in the lawyers getting paid.
So what this is not news get a life people
YEA!!!! For good news!!!! Now media, please don't come back tomorrow about one ticked off on this. Leave it as is today. Enjoy your new fortune gals and guys. I'm happy for each of you.