FOLLOWUP: 35th/Barton 7-11 Mega Millions jackpot winner claims prize

Two weeks after we learned a Mega Millions jackpot-winning lottery ticket had been sold at the 35th/Barton 7-11 in West Seattle – the winner has claimed the prize. A spokesperson for Washington’s Lottery tells us Michael Burkett and his family came to lottery HQ in Olympia today (as required with this size jackpot). The announcement describes him only as a “Washington resident” and says he chose the one-time cash payment option, $102.8 million before taxes (from a $157 million face-value prize). The Lottery announcement adds, “After the reality of winning settled in, the winner’s first purchase was an Alienware PC from Dell. The man, who is a fan of electric vehicles, also shared that he has his eye on a new red Tesla.”

LG March 24, 2016 (7:48 pm)

Congratulations to him and his family. Hope he gives some to the seller at 7-11 who was cheated by the state.

hh March 24, 2016 (9:41 pm)

agree- hope he shares with the place that made it possible

cj March 24, 2016 (10:17 pm)

I hope he keeps the money while it last. Thumbs up on the Tesla.

MJ March 24, 2016 (10:54 pm)

Best thing to do – disappear, tell no one about the money.

LC March 25, 2016 (10:35 am)

Too late now that his name is all over the blog!
- WSB March 25, 2016 (10:59 am)
  
  The news release went to everybody statewide. Anyway, I haven’t found any evidence that he is a West Seattleite, not that my intent was to track him down and publish personal information but I checked a few databases because, well, curiosity is what put me in this profession in the first place. Maybe he works here? Visits family here? We’ll likely never know. Congratulations to him, anyway. – TR

Eric March 25, 2016 (4:51 am)

@hh. If you’re referring to the 7-11. They already got a nice payout from Him winning

WSB March 25, 2016 (6:55 am)

No, they did not. Turns out, as added to the reporting that day, the state no longer does that – the legislature changed the law. http://www.walottery.com/MediaCenter/MediaCenter.aspx?id=1760