Lotto-Winning Couple Quietly Enjoys $88M

Mar 20, 05:00 AM

Current Headlines: By Oren Dorell

A New Jersey couple collected half of the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, and they did it as quietly as they could.

The New Jersey Lottery on Monday identified Harold and Elaine Messner of Cape May County as having one of two winning tickets sold for the March 6 Mega Millions drawing.

The $390 million jackpot was split with a truck driver in Georgia. Unlike that winner, however, the Messners did not appear before reporters to discuss their good fortune. The couple issued a statement through the lottery office instead.

"I checked the last number twice, called for my wife and told her we won," Harold Messner said, according to the statement. "She had a very hard time believing it. Then, we didn't sleep for the rest of the night."

The other winning ticket was sold to Ed Nabors of Rocky Face, Ga. Like him, the Messners chose the cash option of $166,557,083 before taxes. After taxes, the Messners' prize is worth about $88 million.

"I think it took us both until about Friday just to let the fact that we won sink in," Harold Messner said in the statement.

After that they sought financial advice, he said.

"My wife and I are good with money, but when you're talking $88 million, it's always a good idea to let someone who manages money for a living lend a hand," Messner said.

Harold, 57, and Elaine, 56, plan to use the money for an early retirement, the statement said.

The statement instructed reporters to direct their questions to Richard King, a lawyer representing them. King declined to provide any information about his clients.

"Unfortunately, I'm not going to be of any help to you," King said. "My directions are they don't want to do any television (interviews) or radio or print. That was their choice, and those are my directions." (c) Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.