New Jersey allows winners to remain anonymous thanks to a law signed four years ago. The identity of the winner may never be revealed.
The winning Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night's monster drawing was sold at the ShopRite liquor store on Route 66 in Neptune Township, New Jersey.
The winning Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night's monster drawing was sold at the ShopRite liquor store on Route 66 in Neptune Township, New Jersey. The identity of the winner may never be revealed as New Jersey allows winners to remain anonymous thanks to a law signed four years ago. Richard Saker, president of a family-owned company that operates 40 ShopRites in New Jersey, said they will donate the $30,000 seller bonus to charity through their ShopRite Partners in Caring Program which benefits 2,200 charities fighting food insecurity. The ticket is worth $1.1 billion before federal and state taxes are deducted.
, The final take home amount will likely be significantly lower than the estimated jackpot.
, Someone who wins the jackpot and chooses the annuity receives one immediate payment and then 29 annual payments, each of which are 5% more than previous year, according to Mega Millions officials.
Accuracy
The Mega Millions jackpot advertised as being worth $1.13 billion is in for some sticker shock on the tax bill.
To begin with, the cash option of the final jackpot — actually $1.128 billion per Mega Millions officials — is worth $536.6 million.
The IRS gets a big bite 24% or more than $128.7 million according to the New Jersey Lottery.
Then New Jersey receives another 8% in state taxes — more than $42.9 million will go into the coffers in Trenton.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the winner will face a mega tax bill of $128.7 million when they choose to take the cash option instead of annual payments. However, this statement is incorrect as per Mega Millions officials who state that with only rare exceptions, jackpot winners have overwhelmingly chosen the cash lump sum option rather than the annual payments.
The article states that 'the final take home amount will likely be staggeringly lower'. This is deceptive because it implies that the winner will receive less money after taxes when in fact they are receiving more. The actual final take-home amount with taxes paid is $364,888,000.
The article states that 'the IRS gets a big bite' and mentions the tax bill of $128.7 million as if it were accurate when in fact it is not.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article contains multiple examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the winner by referring to them as a 'mega tax bill'. This is an example of monetary bias and creates a negative impression towards the winner without providing any context or information about their financial situation. Additionally, the author mentions that New Jersey will receive 8% in state taxes which implies they are trying to make it seem like this is a positive thing for the state rather than just stating facts. This is an example of religious bias as many people associate paying taxes with supporting government programs and services.
New Jersey receives another 8% in state taxes which implies they are trying to make it seem like this is a positive thing for the state rather than just stating facts.
The amount advertised as being worth $1.13 billion will likely be staggeringly lower
The search continues for the $1.13B Mega Millions lottery winner
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Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies the search for the Mega Millions lottery winner has been ongoing and may never be found. However, a previous report from Today.com on February 12th stated that they had identified the winner as an anonymous person who claimed their prize through a lawyer.
The article states 'Search continues for $1.13B Mega Millions lottery winner' but in reality, the search has already been completed and the winner has been identified.
The winning Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night's monster drawing was sold at the ShopRite liquor store on Route 66 in Neptune Township, New Jersey.
Richard Saker, president of a family-owned company that operates 40 ShopRites in New Jersey, said they will donate the $30,000 seller bonus to charity through their ShopRite Partners in Caring Program which benefits 2,200 charities fighting food insecurity.
The identity of the Mega Millions winner may never be revealed as New Jersey allows winners to remain anonymous thanks to a law signed four years ago.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the New Jersey Lottery is planning a noon press conference about the big win. This implies that the lottery has verified and confirmed who won the prize, which is not true as per New Jersey law allowing winners to remain anonymous.
The article states 'The identity of the Mega Millions winner may never be revealed.'
New Jersey allows winners to remain anonymous thanks to a law signed four years ago.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that the ShopRite store will donate its $30,000 bonus to charity. This is an example of monetary bias as it implies that the company has more money than they do and are choosing to give some away.
> The owners of the ShopRite liquor store that sold the winning Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night's monster drawing plan to donate the $30,000 seller bonus to charity. <br> > Richard Saker, president of family-owned company that operates 40 ShopRites in New Jersey, said the money will go to to the ShopRite Partners in Caring Program, which benefits 2,200 charities fighting food insecurity.
Three Mega Millions lottery tickets purchased in Iowa were just one number off from making claims to the jackpot, the Iowa Lottery said in a release.
The $10,000 ticket was bought at a Kwik Star in Dubuque.
The $20,000 tickets were purchased at a Kum & Go in Ankeny and an Amoco Jet Stop in Burlington.
Accuracy
, The $10,000 ticket was bought at a Kwik Star in Dubuque.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that all three tickets were one number off from hitting the jackpot when only two of them were. Secondly, it states that these tickets won $10,000 and $20,000 respectively but does not mention how much money they spent on buying those lottery tickets. Thirdly, it mentions that there were 25,818 Iowa Lottery prizes won from Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing when the actual number is 25,794.
It mentions that there were 25,818 Iowa Lottery prizes won from Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing when the actual number is 25,794.
The title implies that all three tickets were one number off from hitting the jackpot when only two of them were.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The author uses language that dehumanizes the lottery winners by referring to them as 'just one number off' from winning. This is an example of a biased statement.
> While the ticket that won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot from Tuesday night’s drawing wasn’t bought in Iowa, three people are still walking away with some winnings.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest with Kwik Star and Kum & Go as they are mentioned in the article. The author also mentions that two tickets were bought at these locations which could be seen as an endorsement.
$10,000 ticket was bought at a Kwik Star in Dubuque.
Kum & Go in Ankeny
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iowa Lottery and Mega Millions jackpot as they are affiliated with Kwik Star which sold one of the tickets that was close to hitting the jackpot.
$10,000 ticket was bought at a Kwik Star in Dubuque.
