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Georgia Lottery Corp.
Georgia Lottery President and CEO Debbie D. Alford stands with $1 million Powerball winners James Scoles of North Pole, Alaska; Kenneth Wilson and Sanford Watson of Macon.
All for one, and $1 million for all.
Three long-time chums who made a pact to split the pot if one of them ever won the lottery got their payday last week, Georgia Lottery officials announced on Thursday.
And to top it all, the threesome’s windfall was foretold by an after-dinner treat.
James Scoles, 56, was cracking a fortune cookie in his town of North Pole, Alaska, on March 15, the same day his buddy Kenneth Wilson bought a lottery ticket at a grocery in Twiggs County, Ga.
His fortune? “It said, ‘You’re going to win the lottery,’” Scoles told lottery officials, according to a press release put out Thursday.
Whether that prophecy influenced what happened the next day in the Peach State could not be independently confirmed by NBC News.
But on March 16, Wilson could barely believe his eyes when his numbers came up: 3-7-21-44-53. He didn’t hit the Powerball number, but still managed to lock down a cool million.
Wilson will be splitting it three ways with Scoles and his cousin, Sanford Watson, who also lives in Macon.
“I was just as tickled for them as I was for myself,” Wilson told NBC News. “We just had a verbal agreement and I felt like that had to be honored.”
Wilson had to wait about a week before collecting his loot, however, as he waited for Scoles to fly in from Alaska.
“It was a lot of sleepless nights,” said his wife Dorothy Wilson. “I never would have thought winning money would have been that stressful.”
Scoles said at a press conference on Thursday that he plans to spend some of his share on a “Georgia honey baked ham, and a smoked turkey, and some good barbecue sauce.” Wilson, who is retired, says his only plans right now are to pay off some bills.
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I'm positive these 3 will enjoy their third much more than the whole amount because sharing is what it's all about in the long run. :-)
A man of honor is one to be respected. Well Done.
What a lucky bunch of people. Now they have 1/3 million + each other!!!
I good to see that there are still some people in this world whose word means something. There are far too many of the other kind who would have conveniently forgotten this verbal agreement.
A man or Woman comes into this world with just your word.Once that is gone you aint nothing in my book,well done Mr.Wilson.
About $10 grand after taxes.
vsmith,
Well said. You enter the world with nothing, and leave the same way. In the interim, there are only two possessions you have that cannot be taken away from you ..... your knowledge and your reputation. There are still people walking this earth whose hand is their bond. I am proud to know them, and to be counted among them.
Nice story.... makes my day a little brighter hearing about good people!
How refreshing ... men of their word. Good for them!
What a dumb@ss
Stop talking to yourself in the mirror, it reflects poorly on you.
And perhaps your way is the reason KARMA doesn't allow you to win a thing!
Looking in a mirror I assume!!!!!!!!!!
Or maybe he doesn't have any true friends.
I prefer the analogy, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, blah, blah, blah....
Well it did not take long before a moronic troll like "ThatGuyAtWork" had to post something that probably goes along the same line as his family who are also moronic. I can certainly understand why he is so bitter and this is a way to make him feel better as his mother was nothing but a two-bit whore who gave headjobs to homeless men in back of the neighborhood 7-11. His father and his much older brother are most likely the same person as the way it is in most incest practiced families. Do I even have to mention his wife ? You can find her once the circus comes to town and the side show attraction tents open for business. His children ? If God said "Thou Shalt Not Bastard" they probably would not have even been born. So it's all ok for him to get some of this pent up anger out and that people do understand why they feel the need to troll and lash out by posting idiotic messages. Wouldn't you feel the same way if your family history was like his and be ashamed ?
ThatGuyAtWork, Would you feel the same way if he were splitting the money with you? Didn't think so...
That guy just trolled you and now you are responding exactly as he would have you respond. He is giggling at how stupid you all are. So am I. Morons!
Dumbass if aint written down it aint legal I would have kept it for myself
Joe and ThatGuy,
You two are a prime example of what's wrong with this country of late! I for one am glad that integrity is not totally dead yet!
that's why you don't win anything... selfish
Joe, guess you've never heard of the validity of an oral contract? Seeing as if one won, there would always be 2 who would support each other as witnesses. it would make this kind of agreement one heck of a lot easier to enforce than if it was just 2 people with no witnesses.
Regardless though Lois said it best.
The only thing is you ensured with displaying your lack of knowledge is that you are the epitome of the first word of your post.
Well said
I can buy new friends with that kinda coin.
Yes you can! And how long do you think those bought friends will hang around when the going gets tough? Stupid is as stupid does.
Wow, Joe, ThatGuy...
You guys truly are dumbasses. These guys were doing fine before winning. They were good friends. The guy wins the lottery, and his first decision is to honor his friendship and share the wealth. The oral contract has nothing to do with it, this guy did it because he views people as more important than money.
You know, like humans should. Too many kill and fight over little scraps of paper. This guy actually has something the rest of us need, perspective and appreciation for people.
Good on ya, Kenneth Wilson!
Joe-3144156, selfish self-centered people like you are the biggest problem in this country. Your "Me First, Mine, You Get Nothing From Me!" behavior, your willingness to betray your integrity for money, these are the reason this country is in so much trouble. Look yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself proudly that you would sell out good friends for money... assuming you have any friends at all with an attitude like that.
thats because you have no integrety
Joe-3144156
Would your 2 friends, (your left hand and your right hand) stop pleasing you when you screwed them?
Ok, we should just leave poor little Joe alone...he's probably 16 and his mommy still pays for his internet. He's obviously not that bright if he thinks he can buy new friends "with that kind of coin". Because once you take out federal (38%) and state taxes (varies)... you are probably left with about $575K. Your new buddies are going to want all kinds of nice new things, because I can't imagine anyone being your friend for free. Exactly how long do you think $575K is going to last you when you are playing Mr. Rich Boy? You will be broke again in 6 months and your "friends" will be laughing at your sorry arse as they walk away with their new stuff.
Joe,
Since you freely admit to being completely dishonorable; I wonder about what you would do that you will not admit to doing?
Joe,
"Character" is who you are when nobody is looking. Apparently you value it so little that you can't even pretend to possess it.
I 'd rather keep my word,I could never back out of verbal agreement.Friendship and family are much more important then money.Their is nothing better than a man of his word.As far as the people that called him dumb ass,they need to be exposed to wide spread corruption in their daily life to understand what honesty means.A trip through South America by car or a trip through Europe off the beaten path should make them think about the life in America.
That my friend,is why your sorry ass probably
has no friends,people around you,see you for
what you are and it isn't a pleasant sight!
Money can't buy friends....hookers maybe.
jeez its easy to rile some folks up. Calm down.
So SAD that people are commenting negatively....these men understand the true meaning of honor....good for them...I hope they all have some fun with their winnings AND may their friendships stay strong and that they teach the lesson of respect and honesty!!!
the friendship will undoubtedly stay stron
It seems ThatGuyAtWork and Joe-3144156 that you don't value integrity and promises. Good for him for staying true to his word! Great example of honesty.
I'd say the decision to share his new fortune without a written pact would have to be considered pretty rare today.
I commend Ken Wilson for his integrity and I think his life will be blessed for his thoughtful deed.
How great is that! To honor your word, and bring happiness and prosperity to your friends.....perfect!
The same @!$%#s who are ridiculing the winner for being true to his word, are the same @!$%#s that are dragging this country into the toilet.
to: John Bayner; wrong schmuck. It is your namesake Boehner, Boner, Bayner, (speaker of the house) however you want to spell it or pronounce it, (it still smells like dog @!$%#)
and the rest of the right wing nuts and tea party @!$%#s like yourself, who are @!$%#ing up this country.
ihadenuff,
I think John Bayner is mocking our speaker of the house by using that moniker. You owe John Bayner an apology.
ihadenuff...why did you bring politics into this? Nobody knows who this guy voted for, or if he did vote. You think he is a dumbass for sharing his wealth, right?? Well, our current president who you apparently support, wants the successful business people to share their wealth with people who are too lazy to get out and find a job. Please explain the difference.
Thanks Lois, you are right. The presumptuous @!$%# got it wrong.
You are welcome!
ThatGuyAtWork said;
So it's weird that you people attack the right, when it's an obvious leftist who is the most selfish person here, odd.
I'm sure the 3 white guys from Western Georgia and Alaska were card carrying democrats though. You bunch of partisan hacks.
Honestdebate, do you really think thatguyatwork and the other pinheads criticizing the guy from Georgia who shared his money are all left wing democrats? No way. Those critics sound like hard core republicans to me with this discussion of the lotto sharing being just a variant on standard republican "makers and takers" BS. As for the party of the three lotto winners, only one of them was doing the giving so only his party is relevant to the issue you raise. While it's true that a large majority of white voters in Georgia are republicans a large percentage are still democrats. It wouldn't surprise me to find out the guy who shared the money was a democrat. It would stun me to find out that all of his critics here are democrats.
Sorry twocents, go read thatguyatwork's history, I don't 'think' he is a leftwinger, I KNOW it. Sorry to burst the bubble in your fantasy world.
Good story. Joe, congrats on getting under the skin of so many, hilarious.
as joe said since there was nothing written down it wouldn’t have been dishonest of him to just keep it all like he should have. Go ahead and prove as a third-party that there was ever a verbal deal made between them countless number of years ago? You cantt and faking memory-loss at that age would be preetty believable anyway so all around he would have gotten away easy and it shows a lack of ambition and ingenuity that he forked over anything at all to these two other morons. also this is causing the money to get taxed far more because he's exceeding his untaxable gift-amount for the year by a ton so what was originally a one million dollar win will turn into only about $130,000 for each of them, way to go idiots have fun trying to stretch that chump-change out hopefully expedia is having some deals on trips to new orleans this summer becuase that'as about the only place that you'lll be able to afford to go.
Not a question of proof, for people with integrity, apparently a word not in your vocabulary. What a loser you are...
So LitterHater, $130,000 is chump change to you? Well, to me it would mean the world! I am a multiple-amputee. We lost our insurance when my husband got laid off. I cannot afford to buy my prosthetics. Our bills our mounting and food stamps are all we have. Try to live on $3 a day to eat. $130,000 would cover my outstanding bills, allow me to buy my prosthetics and allow me to get some seriously needed medical. I'd rather be a chump, then. I think the lottery winner was wonderful. I should be so lucky...
I meant our bills ARE mounting, forgive the typo.
Hopefully they slow down and realize the implications of it all. Hopefully they realize this and go down to the Harrah's while they're in NOLA play a little "poker" against one another where the jackpot winner has some "bad luck" playing against his friends.
Deduct gambling losses on one end, get gambling winnings on the other. Eat a free buffet and stay in the high roller's suite for the night.
But they probably won't. It'll probably be just one mass transfer to a friend who will spend it all, then the IRS will come knocking and assessing penalties that could never be paid back.
This is why the poor stay poor, they don't know how to play the game.
even $130,000 is NOT chump change. it could change someones life, if they weren't rich. only some idiot would scoff at $130,000 . I think it tells volumes about a true friendship that they would share as they planned many years ago.
LitterHateras joe
Yes, it would have been dishonest. Legal or not? That a court would have to decide.
It would have been a 2nd and 3rd party.
Litterhater, you would apparently sell out your friends for a few hundred thousand dollars... but that's a little over my budget. Since its just a matter of money, what is your lowest price? Would you sell out a friend for $10? Maybe for $20? How about if you found a nice crispy $100 bill after promising for years to share any 'found money' with your friends..? Would that be enough to get you to sell out your friends? Conveniently 'forget' your promise? Throw mud or worse on your personal integrity, the value of your word, and your "sacred honor"..? Just how low will you go, Litterhater? What price is just too low, or is there one...?
I think you miss the whole point, but I'm sure you don't see it that way. Enjoy counting your money.
@litter hater is highly UNINFORMED! Powerball lottery has options for group/multiple winners. Wilson did NOT gift his two buddies. They EACH receive 1/3 of the prize! NO "gift" tax involved. These gents each responsible for their own state & fegeral taxes. (fegeral taxes deducted from the winnings B4 the remaing cash is paid-whther you take lump sum or monthly annuity.) You so naive you think recent groups of 20 or more fellow employee winners are doled out 'their share' by one individual?
In a hurry, excuse the previous typos. p.s. Look at the check-it's made out to Lottery WinnerS. Sure, the guy that bought the ticket could have redeemed it himself and not honored the friendship, but he chose not to. Rough estimate, each will receive $333,333.33 B4 taxes. After fed taxes witheld from winnings each will receive roughly $225,000. Then will be on the hook for state taxes. GIFT TAXES NOT A FACTOR in any shape,form or fashion.
WRONG! Since all they have to do is all chip in for the tickets they buy...Litter Hater....get your facts straight before opening your pie hole here....the lottery commission divided the winnings by 3 so no gift tax since no gift.
Geez some people are so jealous of anyone who had a bit more than they have, notice how the negative people here comment? Pure and simple green eyed monster came forth in all of them...
This fellow has integrety and informed lottery commission he and his 2 friends were in this together...wonderful and refreshing in this day and age of the me me me people...some posters who are so jealous of these men are so full of :poop: it's sad.
Split 3 ways would be $333,333.33
Federal tax is 39%
Georgia state tax is 6%
Alaska has no state tax.
So the 2 friends in Georgia would each receive $183,333 each and the friend in Alaska would receive $203,333.
Money only has friends until it is gone, loyal friends are forever.
http://www.usamega.com/mega-millions-jackpot.asp
little hater,
you can give a total of a gift up to 5 million dollars without being taxed as a gift. (one time)
Clarification on gift tax for little hater
Giving more than the annual exclusion amount
If you give more than the annual exclusion amount to one person in a single year you’ll have to file a gift tax return. But you still won’t have to pay gift tax unless you gave a very large amount. The rules let you give a substantial amount during your lifetime without ever paying a gift tax. As of 2012 the amount is $5,120,000.
http://fairmark.com/general-taxation/tax-rules-for-gifts/
LitterHater that's what you are doing here. littering up the comments
"as joe said since there was nothing written down it wouldn’t have been dishonest of him to just keep it all like he should have. Go ahead and prove as a third-party that there was ever a verbal deal made between them countless number of years ago? You cantt and faking memory-loss at that age would be preetty believable anyway so all around he would have gotten away easy and it shows a lack of ambition and ingenuity that he forked over anything at all to these two other morons. also this is causing the money to get taxed far more because he's exceeding his untaxable gift-amount for the year by a ton so what was originally a one million dollar win will turn into only about $130,000 for each of them, way to go idiots have fun trying to stretch that chump-change out hopefully expedia is having some deals on trips to new orleans this summer becuase that'as about the only place that you'lll be able to afford to go."
You obviously lack the integrity and moral values so many posting here are applauding, me included. Yes, Wilson could have kept his mouth shut. Doubt he would have been happy or proud of himself. As for the sharing and taxes etc. OBVIOUSLY the three of them don't care about the $$$$. Wilson could have cashed the ticket, paid the taxes and then split 3 ways. I would wager that it was thought about and discussed amongst the three and how they did it is none of our business. It made the news because of the man's honesty,integrity and moral compass. Of which you seem to be lacking oops all three of those qualities.
Litter hater, nice integrity. If you don't have it carved in stone then you never said it? What a guy. Just do whatever you can get away with and your word means nothing. My hero. LOL! That attitude is what is killing this country.
JimB- your post reminded me of an old joke:
A man meets a beautiful woman and says, "would you sleep with me for a million dollars"? She says"Sure"! Then the guy asks, "would you sleep with me for a hundred dollars"? She says, No, what do you think I am, a whore? The guy replies, "Well, we've already established that, now we're just negotiating".
Litter Hater should re-name himself for what he is...a Bitter Hater
I am not surprised that you don't know the difference between illegal and dishonest.
Congratulations to the new job creators.
Oh, look at the sad OWS drop-out. Now he hates these guys for having more than him too.
It's more fun to spend the money with your best friends than to have all the money to yourself and die lonely.
My cubie-mate who lives in North Pole is asking if he is single!
I think it a wonderful story. Actually after paying taxes on a million, and spitting it 3 ways, probably gets them each about $150,000 not bad returns for a $2.00 ticket!
I was thinking a little over $200,000.00. I wonder if the other two are going to pitch in their 66.6 cents each for the ticket.
The correct amount after taxes is nearly $193,000.
Split 3 ways would be $333,333.33
Federal tax is 39%
Georgia state tax is 6%
Alaska has no state tax.
So the 2 friends in Georgia would each receive $183,333 each and the friend in Alaska would receive $203,333.
Money only has friends until it is gone, loyal friends are forever.
http://www.usamega.com/mega-millions-jackpot.asp
What a great story!! And how much cooler is it that the money went to guys who literally just want a really good smoked ham before anything else? No Ferrari, no boat. Just a properly smoked ham and a good sized turkey to go.
See I knew there were a few real human beings left in this country. But when I asked MY fortune cookie where they were, it said "Are you aware of Uranus?"
Stupidtasty cookie.This story speaks of love, honor, and keeping ones word. All they had was a "VERBAL AGREEMENT", and it was kept.
These are some of the qualities that seem to a varnishing breed in America, and the world in general.
Gentlemen, enjoy your winnings.... :)
JOE - with that selfish attitude, I'll just "bet" you don't have any friends!
lady3 based on the fact that you're extremely judgemental of people who have a different opinion than yours id bet that you havea very small group of friends who only keepo your around so that they can speak ill of you when you're not around because you're such a miserable and unappealing witch.
LitterHater,
I only see you and two others on this board that fit the description of miserable and unappealing.
Litter box, it is called integrity, something you and Joe obviously missed when they handed out character. It is not a matter of a difference of opinion, it is character flaw. Sorry you missed out!
LittleHitler,
Do you just go from story to story to berate people and call them names? Are you older than 13?
Since it's a $1,000,000 (before taxes) split 3 ways....How much does each 1/3 get after all taxes?
The US government takes 28% right off the top... Each state has their own tax rate... In my state I would receive 69.46% of the total winnings which would be $694, 600 divide that by 3 would be $231, 533 each... not bad...
Federal tax is now 39% of anything over $400,000.
Honest people like that are rare. Good for him.
.... after taxes each of them will probablly end up with about $167,874.38.
A million bucks aint what it used to be.
what a nice story about good friendship. you can only hope there are more people like that in the world.
What a good man! A man of his word.
Some posters agree with me that these gentlemen are stand outs. A man of his word, I would do the same thing if I had said that. As for all the people who think he was mistaken, well, you probably have a low opinion of yourselves so that pretty much explains your attitude. BTW, I have a low opinion of you also.
Some people think "My word is my bond" are just words! It's good to see there are still men (and women) of integrity left on this earth. Enjoy your winnings!
now each of them has enough money to pay for thier obama care for a little while
I'm sure if you "nah sayers" were on the other end of this (you and two of your friends made the same promise) and you were not the one who won, you would be crying all the way to your lawyers office to make sure you got the money you were promised!
If Joe, ThatGuy, and LitterHater had made that pact, I bet two of them might be dead had one of them won!
Split 3 ways would be $333,333.33
Federal tax is 35%
Georgia state tax is 6%
Alaska has no state tax.
So the 2 friends in Georgia would each receive $196,666 each and the friend in Alaska would receive $216,666.
Money only has friends until it is gone, loyal friends are forever.
http://www.usamega.com/mega-millions-jackpot.asp