Maryland Mega Millions Winners Decide To Keep Working In Education For 'The Kids'

As the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to a record $656 million last month, the air was abuzz with the question: "What would you do if you won the big bucks?"

In a Patch.com poll, 71 percent of the respondents said that they would definitely leave their jobs.

With millions in your pocket, it seems like a given that choosing a life of languid luxury would beat out the drudgery of work -- right?

For the three Maryland public school workers who won a $218.6 million share of the record-breaking Mega Millions jackpot, their jobs as educators are worth much more than the millions they won.

According to the Atlantic Wire, the three winners (an elementary school teacher, a special education teacher and an administrative worker) who came forward Thursday to claim their prize said they planned to keep working in education because they "can't give up on the kids".

"If it can't be you, these are precisely the people that you would want to see win the lottery," director of the Maryland Lottery, Stephen Martino, told CNN. He added that the winners had all been "modest" and "humbled" when they stepped forward to claim their prize.

And, in sharp contrast to the McDonald's worker who'd been claiming to have won the Maryland jackpot, these winners seem to have been nice and civil about sharing the prize. According to CBS's Baltimore affiliate, one of the winners had the tickets spread out in front of her the night of the drawing. She then called the other two and told them that they'd won.

The three winners chose to take the cash option of $158 million and will each take home just under $35 million after taxes.

Despite their newfound wealth, the trio -- who have chosen to remain anonymous and are calling themselves "The Three Amigos" -- will be returning to work this week, out of "a strong commitment to their students," The Huffington Post reports.

"It’s gratifying to know that these individuals, who have given so much to the public through the years, have had this wonderful luck," Martino told MSNBC.

However, the dedication of the Three Amigos is not as rare as one might think.

Lottery.com reports that 85 percent of lottery winners stay in the workplace.

Like the Three Amigos, NBC reported that 12 pizzeria workers in Marin County, Calif., who won more than $300,000 in the recent Mega Millions lottery, have shunned the high life and are back at work making pizza pies.

Earlier this year, 33-year-old lottery winner Marcia Adams made headlines when she kept her job as a corporate accountant after clinching $72 million.

“I love what I do,” she told the Atlantic Journal-Constitution. “I have a purpose.

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Comments

[dbrett480]

06:55 PM on 05/03/2012

I guess their job must not be that bad. If I won, I wouldn't even give notice.

[mlaiuppa]

02:47 AM on 04/12/2012

Work is a lot more fun when you know you don't have to work. Money relieves a lot of stress in life. It allows you to work for the joy of it, rather than because you have to pay the bills.

How much easier would it be to go to work if the mortgage is paid off, the car is paid off, the credit cards all have zero balance and you don't have to worry about being bankrupted if you have a serious health issue?

Work is more pleasant when you know you could retire at any time.

[Joy BittermanGandolfini]

07:55 AM on 04/12/2012

You are so right...and if they really care about it all, they should donate their checks back to the school for items needed for the kids. Maybe even have a pool put in if they don't have one already. It's so hard to find people today who really enjoy their work. I hear so many complaining about their jobs, but what they don't understand is, they have jobs, when so many are out of work. With money like theirs now, they should refuse to get paid, offer it to others that need work and develop new positions at the school for the ones that need it most. I wish I had been one of the winners, like so many other millions of people out there, what i would have done with my share...oh boy...what I would have done....sigh.

[mlaiuppa]

07:07 PM on 04/12/2012

While I'm sure their classes and the school will benefit from some donations (field trips, equipment, etc.) I think it is unreasonable to expect these people to donate their checks or work for free just because they are teachers. Teachers are people too. They have a right to their winnings. Thanks to this win they can now afford to buy a house, take a trip, even buy a new car. (Most teachers buy used and keep them for 10 years or more.) Something they likely couldn't do on a teachers salary. While I'm sure they will share by subsidizing their schools and classrooms, they are certainly under no obligation to do so. No more than any other lottery winner.

[Francesca1953]

10:49 PM on 04/12/2012

You're joking right? Why should they donate their winnings to the school system? You see.... this is the attitude that so many people have of teachers: they should work out of the goodness of their hearts and be thankful they have a job. Would you ask a restaurant employee to donate their winnings to the restaurant? Or, a secretary to the business he or she is working for? Most teachers give enough of themselves already.....

[katn1084]

05:59 PM on 04/11/2012

Teachers really represent the best of America.

[Lady Gato]

05:24 PM on 04/11/2012

Congrats to them...BUT, they don't need those jobs anymore. There are teachers who DO need jobs. Just sayin'.

[redeye]

05:24 PM on 04/11/2012

Really? With hundreds of millions you could start your own charter school and change the lives of thousands....instead you'll just pay off your car and mortgage and go back to the classroom?
Sigh.

[mlaiuppa]

02:48 AM on 04/12/2012

They don't have hundreds of millions. They each have $35 million. after taxes about $22 million. They are entitled to do with it whatever they want. They are no obligated to give it away to educate other people's children.

[smmrselysummers]

05:22 PM on 04/11/2012

Ya can't exactly just sit on the couch for the next 50 years, and there's only so much travel you can do. I say good for them. Perhaps they will show a very philanthropic side as well!.. We need teachers like this.

[nyash12345]

12:17 PM on 04/11/2012

According to the Atlantic Wire, the three winners (an elementary school teacher, a special education teacher and an administrative worker) who came forward Thursday to claim their prize said they planned to keep working in education because they "can't give up on the kids".

WINNERS just by that statement. Yeh! Joy, peace and wisdom continue to be yours. One love

[WiscFighter]

10:46 AM on 04/11/2012

I did a pool with 6 other employees, each of us bought 10 tix so we all split a total of 70 tix. Didnt even win anything off 70 tix, had high hopes but still knew I wouldnt most likely win. But either way, better for these people to win than some other less-deserving people.

[voting4BO]

09:39 AM on 04/11/2012

Congrats to them!!!

[ifquilt]

11:38 PM on 04/10/2012

Ha! But they are going to have a whole new attitude.

[smmrselysummers]

05:23 PM on 04/11/2012

Yeah, one bad day might make you rethink your position.