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MegaMillions Jackpot All Mine, MD Woman Claims

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on April 03, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

If Mirlande Wilson is telling the truth, then the public should brace itself for yet another MegaMillions lawsuit.

The self-proclaimed Maryland MegaMillions winner is already inviting controversy, having announced that she has no plans to share the jackpot with her McDonald's co-workers. The alleged winning ticket, which she refused to show the New York Post, may have been purchased with lottery pool funds.

Sound familiar? It should.

Just last month, a New Jersey jury ordered a MegaMillions winner to share his jackpot with a group of co-workers. The man had purchased tickets with pooled funds, but claimed he bought the winning ticket with his own money.

Mirlande Wilson's co-workers are telling a similar story, according to the Post. A group of about 15 individuals put money into the pot and then sent Wilson to buy the tickets. The list of participants and the group tickets were then put in the restaurant safe. But on Friday, the owner says he gave her another $5 for the pool. She bought the additional numbers from the 7-11 that sold the winning Maryland MegaMillions ticket.

Wilson told the Post that this second batch was hers. Her co-workers -- and the Post reporters -- are skeptical of her story.

If Mirlande Wilson is indeed the winner, you can almost certainly expect a lawsuit. The winning Maryland MegaMillions ticket is worth $105 million. Even if the McDonald's employees can't afford an attorney, someone out there will undoubtedly take the case on contingency. It's just too much money to let go.

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