Lottery winner claims $168 million Mega Millions jackpot after credit card default | New York Post

New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega announces that former MSG employee Jimmy Groves won the Mega Millions lottery prize.
#lottery #winner #MegaMillions
From "Once-broke Harlem man in the money": nypost.com/2009/09/09/once-br...
What’s in this Harlem man’s wallet? He says $168 million.
James “Jimmy” Groves - a Madison Square Garden laborer who recently defaulted on his Capital One credit-card debt - yesterday told The Post that he’s the person who won half of a $336 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot two weeks ago.
“It feels great!” said Groves, 49, near his home in the crime-riddled Grant Houses. “I’m going to Disney World!
“I was down and out, and I didn’t have a dime in my pocket. I asked for a lottery ticket, in 26 installment payments. And the next day, I won $166 million.
“Then the lottery people called me back and told me it was [actually] $168 million,” said the father of two, who has not been publicly confirmed by lottery officials as the winner.
Groves has yet to collect on what would be yearly payments of $6.47 million before taxes. But he is already learning that with all that money comes mighty big headaches.
He said that since telling family and pals he won, he’s been fielding up to 40 calls each morning from friends, acquaintances and others begging for cash.
“It’s hectic,” said Groves, who had been working the midnight shift at Madison Square Garden stacking chairs. “I wake up every morning, and everyone is on me like stink on s- - -.
“Right now, I’m frustrated. I feel like my family is in a position of jeopardy,” he said. “This is a dangerous neighborhood.
“It’s a dream turned into a nightmare. Winning is the beginning. Living with it is pure hell.
“I know people say, ‘Give me that hell.’ Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it.”
That said, Groves was admittedly living “paycheck to paycheck” before the drawing and could definitely use the money.
Court records show that Capital One - the credit-card issuer whose motto is “What’s in your wallet?” - in March obtained a judgment of nearly $4,000 against Groves for unpaid principal and interest.
State lottery officials yesterday refused to confirm whether Groves is the person who won the half-share of the Aug. 28 Mega Millions drawing .
The winning ticket was bought at Fordham Grocery and Convenience Store in The Bronx and bore the numbers 1-17-31-37-54, with the Mega Ball 31.
The other winner of the jackpot - the second largest in Mega Millions history - bought that ticket in California.
“I can’t confirm anything until we actually have a public check presentation. We’re in the process of putting together a date, a place or time that works for everybody,” said Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman.
Sources at the Garden said Groves has told them he won the lottery and has not been at work since the drawing. A Garden spokesman declined to comment.
Groves’ neighbors have been buzzing for days about his reputed staggering good fortune at Grant Houses, where elevators reek of urine and most prior news stories mentioning the project have been about violent crimes there.
One neighbor said Groves last week was toting a store sign bearing the lottery prize amount.
“He told me, ‘I just won $166 million,’ ” Fred Reid, 78, recalled. “I didn’t believe him, but I said congratulations.”
Another resident, Karen Jefferson, said the win is “a blessing for him . . . He can move his family up, out of here.”
She said Groves was known for trying “to get people in the neighborhood jobs at Madison Square Garden.”
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[@RamblinAround]

Who in the world could go to sleep after winning $168 million dollars. I would have been awake til I was holding that oversized check.

[@johnharvey2585]

10 redbulls and sum kush n jolly ranchers

[@brittanym4218]

Me too...

[@peaceistheanswer275]

He was confident God gave him those numbers. And he probably wanted to enjoy the last few days of being a regular joe.

[@Meizenmarie]

Seems like a good person. Good for him.

[@PONCHODAGOD]

How many people are just looking at lottery videos because of that big Powerball jackpot? I've learned a lot of do's and don'ts too from these videos.

[@zakoblivioa]

+PONCHODAGOD lol that 1.5 billion dollars

[@johnharvey2585]

me too

[@tastyfreeze111]

Meeeeee👋👋👋

[@nikhilsukumar23]

Me too

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

YEA,THERE ALL BS,LOL

[@RoblesJunior]

"who did you call first?"....."My Momma" .....lmao

[@Sulfen]

Id do that too. She might be the only woman on earth that would not try to back stab you 100% guaranteed.

[@InspireMe819]

my momma for sure.

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

+Sulfen Indeed. I too would call my mom first, and tell her "mom, your going on the holiday that you dreamed of your entire life (which is a luxury cruise in the Caribbean Islands)!!"

[@PrinceKarma650]

I would call "yo mama"

[@RoblesJunior]

Amir Abeid Troll - Mark

[@You-Toober]

Congrats brother! Save and spend *wisely*.....!

[@TomZentra]

He's probably spent every cent already. Watch for his bankruptcy story next week.

[@12tward]

TomZentra He was wise and took it in 26 annual payments, so that's not possible he has a couple years to get it right.

[@TomZentra]

12tward Annual payments can be turned into a lump sum through numerous financial institutions that charge a high rate for the conversion. Many lotto winners have made the change and then wasted the entire sum within a year.

[@sugarandspice2136]

@@12tward do you know him personally to be that judgmental?

[@andrewjconners]

i wonder how much that dude gets paid to dress up as a powerball

[@mweezy]

Not much usually. I can see a high school student making money off that but a fully grown man.....that takes deflated balls.

[@societynewsnetwork5973]

They pay him in rice😂

[@joejose8433]

Probably minimum wage. Had that been me I would have walked up to him shook his head in his head with a note that says call me when you get off the clock I want to take care of you because they ain't paying you enough they better not drop that note because I will be out of town it will put on that note that says write down your cash app give me six hours I'm going to put some money on the books for you and you ain't never got to work for minimum wage again LOL so I see it again he better not drop that note LOL

[@wasimjaan3300]

this man really deserve this money

[@latrealmcdaniel7792]

bless u for that comment brother...who ever u are

[@wasimjaan3300]

Latreal McDaniel 😊☺

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

WHY.??

[@combattantmbidimutandu8273]

It will be me one day.

[@lorebringers]

Did u won?

[@bartonfunk1237]

me too.

[@DominicRiv]

He seems like a really nice guy. Congrats dude!

[@UberSynth]

$4M after taxes a year for 26 years is great! That's $1M every 3 months or about $100,000 a week or just under $14,000 per day for 26 years!!!

[@digitaljackass]

Good for him he looks like someone who has worked hard in his life and it is nice to see him win

[@IAmKidPain]

Atleast he's spending his money wisely! I'd give 10m to my mom, my brother 5m, and invest 99% of whatever I have left and spend the last 1% on myself and live off of the profits.

[@lahdea1471]

Don't give your brother nothing or just give him what he in need 4 trust me I know

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

+Craig Moore Let me have a guess: you would spend it on weed and booze parties, right? Have a guess who the real loser is, huh.

[@Native722]

Remain Anonymous.

[@johnharvey2585]

yupp

[@MegaBallPowerBall]

Not allowed in NY. You MUST reveal yourself and have your name and hometown be on public record.

[@johnharvey2585]

+Short Names true but you dont have to show your face

[@Zbmanakouzuki]

You can do a trust or something like that so that you can keep your identity safe

[@everyonewasstealingmynamea919]

kemp Davis Yeah but a lot of those celebrities you mentioned aren’t even worth over 100 million dollars

[@dharmapunx36]

Congrats to James Groves..you deserve the best!

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

WHY.??

[@thankthelord4536]

@@fiddlesticksbessette398 why not?

[@TheWrx2002]

Another life changed! I hope one day to be blessed like that.

[@TonyBopper]

This man seems like A very good person to me. He deserves it :).

[@DJprofessork72]

He seems like he's going to do well not solely for himself but for his family and community. I really respect that

[@ankokugaiBOSS]

i feel good for him

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

WHY,THIS IS JUST AN ADVERTIZEMENT,LOL

[@redskinfan17]

He deserves it... So humble

[@thekingelijah7158]

All I need to do pay off my bills, give to my parents and take care of my 7 year old son.

[@jamesguevara1622]

I hope they have the option to stay anonymous. If I win the lottery, I don't want anyone to know because your security is compromised as long as you live

[@jinxmad1310]

in nyc you have to reveal your identity. it helps sell more tickets to show real, actual winners

[@gonzalezgrant]

He deserve it congratulations

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

WRONG.ALL BS.

[@Cody-uh9rf]

Congrats brother. Smart move choosing the annual payments. I know I would have.

[@takethattopic2118]

NEVVVVVER DISCLOSE WHERE YOU GOING TO BE LIVING!!!

[@gabevaecen1771]

I like when he said I went to bed,slept,wake up again and again to check the lottery ticket Lolllll..

[@ghayath2011]

I wanna win the lottery to have my own farm :))

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

LOL..

[@lightsout7659]

It's not to late

[@Crinkleduster]

Very calm about it. Hope it stays that way.

[@irvgaddi21]

now this is the type of guy that deserves a little break not some millionares

[@ninninin656]

Very cool guy, hope the win brought him peace and happiness. Always so sad to hear when people lose it all!

[@kinster02]

I would've taken the annuity also as and insurance policy to protect myself from myself and friends and family. Even though I'm pretty good with money and don't want much but, you never know?

[@ImALovelygirl_Dontbotherme]

8 years ago as of now wonder what's happened

[@davemerc5852]

I met him when I worked for directv last year .. he got a big house in the Bronx

[@raymondvigil99]

right when he said the first person he told the video froze to load... idk why but it made it hilarious!

[@Stayhii420]

look at that mascots face lmao

[@predictlotto]

I love it when nice people win lotto! :-)

[@vincentcheatham1844]

Wonder where he is now. This was 2009.

[@D.L.Griffin]

My dude is set for a lifetime

[@2nainsvn677]

This is the smartest move anyone can do. If you can’t handle 4mil a year/ 320k net a month, you won’t handle 60-70million

[@southside7025]

Glad he won he is level headed

[@Man2be23]

that takes a lot of "balls" if I may, staying in NY after winning that.

[@hole0101]

What a humble man. I hope the money doesnt change him

[@cericethomason7180]

It did. I'm in his family.

[@beautyroses8771]

@@cericethomason7180 how did it change him?

[@edwardwhite221]

Feel good story. love it

[@cherriesncream100]

he imagined it,he asked for it,he believed it.He got it.

[@walterwitty9290]

Sounds like "The Instant Celebrity."

[@98boxes]

who did you call first? I called my Mommaaa !!! lmao

[@stpeter2214]

Thank you lord for blessing my brother with such an incredible amount l hope he gets help from financial advisers and that he invests well. Come to Africa brother and own ur own diamond mine.

[@virginiawatson6774]

Wonderful story enjoy!!!!

[@TheWiseproduction]

My Man: Congratulation brother. May God bless you and all your love ones with great health, love happiness and wisdom.

[@arcticmorning]

seems like a good guy.. good hit there

[@stoneystoney8651]

Stay humble and true, do whatever feeds your soul and make it last .

[@conflictofincest6629]

Tell nobody That's the best advice

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

NOTHING TO TELL,ALL BS,LOL

[@realtalk1310]

If I won that, my life would be over. People who you don’t know will target you and your friends and family will turn on you out of envy.

[@trilens9121]

I wish I hit the jackpot like him

[@klsrecords]

season ticket holder now!? lol good shit

[@FrenchyFriday]

i am very happy for this man

[@Norg1]

i know right Hoodlums WOuld prob wet me up the moment i step outside LOL

[@DarkReapersGrim]

If you win the lottery, generally you get two options, you get annual installments or you get it in one large lump sum. He went for the annual installments. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Personally, if I were in his position, I would've went for the annual allotments too. I don't trust myself with money, especially not in spending it.

[@4underscores]

that yellow guy is awesome hahahhah

[@alextv6742]

Congratulations on winning Hopefully I live and get a blessing like him

[@Squarehead45]

Never, never, never collect this much winnings yourself,,. Hire a large law firm, set up a trust account, make yourself a trustee and have THEM pick up the winnigs. To do this yourself is inviting trouble. Family, Friends, Neighbors, etc will be all over you asking for money or "Gifts". Also, hire an investment firm to control where you funds go as will as a CPA that is NOT a "Family friend" or acquaintance. this man will regret Every winning this money,,sadly.

[@ZGaming2018]

no cause so many will rob you blind best thing to do is get your own degree and do it yourself period.

[@1000hightower]

he's not bitching about the odds of winning, he took a chance like everyone else

[@splintcell22]

who are all those guys in suits at the end. lawyers or bodyguards

[@superstory4u144]

$4 millions a year after taxes is not bad idea.

[@popcur]

That shows two extremes, one being a multimillionaire.. The other wearing that ballsuit. lol

[@paper2006]

@fishrcoolturtles2 I think he said that only cause he was on a New York station. He probably moved to Cali by now.

[@paulawr8543]

Good man!!, hope your money brings lots of benefits to people, enjoy x

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

IT WONT,THIS IS AN ADVERTIZEMENT ONLY,LOL...I'M SURE'

[@787puertorico]

he said harlem with all that money he is crazy

[@aprilbrandao4925]

Be blessed my friend and Namaste !!! 💝💝💝

[@grimreaper3526]

awesome story! hope all that $$ brings you the happiness you deserve...

[@032770MariahCarey]

Congratulations 🎊 🎉 🎈 🍾 !!!

[@bloodfiredeath87]

1:42 "This shit changed my life to do bigger and better things" Hahahaha

[@damipeddie5134]

Humble man good for him and I know he will do the right thing,soon I will win the super lotto jackpot and have a great time with friends and family.

[@Deva080]

I wonder if he is still happy...?

[@lahdea1471]

I bet he is 🎯

[@fiddlesticksbessette398]

NO.

[@MsRita2014]

@@fiddlesticksbessette398 how do you know? Are you living with him?

[@mamacacanana]

If you play often, just get a mega millions subscription. Ive had it for about 2 years now and I love it. I payed $98 for the whole year, it plays automaticly 2 times a week for 52 weeks. You never have to check the numbers, and never miss a game. And if I win 2nd 3rd or 4th prize, I get a check automaticly mailed to me. Its great! look it up...

[@walkaboutwithross8034]

Good for him. Hope he does well with this money.

[@MrJazzitup9]

My thing is this, why all these personal questions to this man tho? So what, he lives in the projects, why are yall up in this man's business? !?! ? If I EVER win the Lotto, I would NOT be going through all this shit! Just give me my check and let me be on my way! No cameras, media or press, Period! Thank you!

[@britrob24]

@utprizzo but those payments aren't set aside for you and guaranteed... who knows what could happen? then they come up saying the payment can't be made from available funds, etc.

[@meeruddin4139]

Lotto Winner Is $168M Happier - New York Post.

[@tikoakinney4781]

good for him seems like he wants to help family and community

[@lil3p675]

My uncle won 548million dollars I’m so happy

[@TheVariableConstant]

His name is 'Groves' and he called the square 'Gardens' his home. Haha.

[@hrobbins]

I am so happy for him.

[@MrLottoLife]

"Groves currently resides in the Bronx but is actively looking to make a move for himself and his family.." Okay FBI agent. Felt like the reporter was trying to put a hit out on him lol.

[@g00dguyforyou]

he looks very calm for winning millions

[@redred825]

Where he at now

[@lijit77]

Where are they now?

[@ECDT1089-EtheLamborghini]

depends on what state your in.

[@devinmccampbell8110]

How can you fall to sleep at all knowing you won lol I'd be up everyday until the money hit my hand

[@TangTuyetMinh]

If I win the lottery...I would treat myself a double cheese burger.

[@THEENEWTUBERZ]

im winning this lotto tonight, and im bringin hockey back to MSG

[@jaehood109]

so if u win the jackpot, can they pay you monthly or do they only give you yearly & one lump sum options?

[@freein2339]

Now all his friends , relatives , former girlfriends , enemies and nutcases will try to "share" his money...The best thing to do is only tell a few people that you can trust and NEVER GO ON TELEVISION.....

[@brooklyn3053]

Well deserved hard working man.

[@NatTurnersGhost]

@sportsaddict1942 Yeah, It would be like in Dave Chapelle, "When Keepin it real goes wrong."...lol

[@Kassiusday]

What happen to this nice gentleman , 13 years ago , from now 2023 !!!!!!

[@ECDT1089-EtheLamborghini]

Exactly.

[@LOLMISSY1]

ahhhh i love the part " i call my moma"!!!! 0:46

[@leonsceco]

Best way to win is to calculate how much you're willing to spend over a year, save that money, get some lotto sheets from a retailer, use an online number generator, mark the lotto sheets and get a lotto management software like mega millions checker gold and buy the lottery every game. Buying 1 to 3 tickets per game is such a low chance, I wouldn't even bother playing.

[@mohammedali]

no taxes to pay on lottery here in canada

[@IAMABILLIONARE2003]

I will be a millionaire by the end of the school year #millions

[@mrswilbert]

Well?

[@KissCairo]

Did it work

[@jordynwalker359]

Sike!

[@XxchampaignxX]

Are you a millionaire

[@Thedarksecret1]

@coldbedsheets That's a valid point.