Super Lotto winner wants financial advice

A Jamaican man, A. Murray, yesterday walked home $250 million richer after hitting the Super Lotto jackpot last month.

Murray collected his winnings in the form of a cheque at a press conference hosted by the Supreme Ventures Limited at the Spanish Court's Worthington property in New Kingston.

Though striking big in the lottery is the ultimate dream for many, Murray said it is not the best thing that has ever happened to him.

"My family is the best thing to have ever happened to me," he said, noting that he is married, with two teenaged children - a girl and a boy.

Nonetheless, Murray admitted that the winnings was "a boost" and said the whole experience felt surreal to him.

WINNING TICKET

Murray purchased the winning Quick Pick ticket (which is randomly generated by the machine), as well as a manual option ticket on Tuesday, July 19, at a Barbican lottery shop, but did not realise that he had won until a friend advised him to check his ticket three days later.

The multimillionaire said he does not have a clear cut plan for his new-found fortune, but noted that the money now provides him with a great opportunity to safeguard his family financially.

"It's about growth and preservation. I plan on getting some advisers and see what's the best mix to preserve what I have and grow it," he told THE STAR.

Murray, who works as an information technology (IT) consultant, plans to continue working, and said there will be no drastic lifestyle changes for him and his wife, who also works in consultancy.

."People ask why I'm still going to work, but the reality of it is that we live in a country where this is a boost, but it's not something you can retire comfortably on," he reasoned.

The University of the West Indies graduate added that he has heard countless stories of lottery winners squandering their fortunes then going broke, but said he woud be working to ensure the same fate does not befall him.

Murray, who has been buying the Super Lotto since its inception in 2009, said he will stop purchasing the tickets now that he has finally won. "I think the probability of me wining again has expired," he said, while advising other players to keep trying.

"If you don't have a ticket, you don't have a chance. It's possible, anything is possible."