A retired southern Illinois couple claimed the third and final share of last month’s record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot on Wednesday, and said they plan to treat themselves — possibly even to a vacation — once they’ve sorted out how to invest their windfall. Merle and Patricia Butler bought a $3 quick-pick ticket to the March 30 drawing at the Motomart convenience store in their village of Red Bud, a farming community about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis. They have opted to collect their winnings — $111 million after taxes — in a lump-sum payment.
Merle Butler, 65, said that until Wednesday’s news conference, fewer than five people knew they had won the lottery, other than the cadre of financial advisors and the lawyer with whom they’ve been meeting. “I was retired. It looks like I have another full-time job,” the former computer systems analyst said. The couple, who have grandchildren, have no immediate plans other than to craft an investment strategy, then look into how to treat themselves in a few months or a year, Merle said.
“There could possibly be a vacation in there,” he quipped. Of the three jackpot-winning ticket holders, only the Butlers came forward publicly. The Illinois Lottery requires, with rare exceptions, that winning ticket holders appear for a news conference and related promotions, partly to show that it pays out prizes as promised. Winning ticket holders in Kansas and Maryland opted to remain anonymous. Patricia Butler said that since the drawing, they have been so busy mapping out how to deal with the life-changing event, they haven’t spent a lot of time with their friends and neighbors.
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