Ira Curry, Mega Millions Winner: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Ira Curry. (Facebook)

Ira Curry of Stone Mountain, Georgia, has come forward as one of the two winners of this week’s $648 million Mega Millions jackpot. The 56-year-old grandmother will split the second-biggest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

The other winning ticket was purchased in San Jose, California.

Here’s what you need to know about Ira:

1. She’s Taking the Lump Sum

Curry has elected to take the cash (lump sum) option, amounting to over $173 million. After taxes, she’ll take home about $120 million cash, which is enough money to buy 10 percent ownership of Heavy.com. … Call us if you’re interested, Ira!

2. She Staying Out of the Spotlight

Or at least she’s trying to. But we at Heavy believe the people deserve to vent their jealousy, scrutinizing the arbitrary good fortune of their fellow citizens. It’s the American Way!

She and her family were not on hand for the Georgia Lottery press conference, held this afternoon and hosted by Georgia Lottery Corporation President Debbie Alford. According to Alford, the Curry family is “very excited about the win” and “in a state of shock.”

Curry was driving this morning, when she heard on the radio that the Mega Ball number was 7 and the winning ticket was sold in Georgia. She immediately called her daughter to check her numbers, and nearly veered off the road when they were confirmed. Which should be a reminder to us all, it’s never safe to drive while talking on your cellphone and winning the lottery.

3. Her Lucky Numbers Had Special Meaning

The numbers were a combination of family birthdays and the family’s lucky number, 7. She told lottery officials it was a “last-minute decision to buy” the ticket. She purchased it at a newsstand in the Buckhead financial center of Atlanta. She bought just one ticket.

The winning numbers were: 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball 7.

4. She Works in Insurance

According to this LinkedIn profile, an Ira Curry from Stone Mountain is a vice president at Aspen Re, a reinsurance firm. The company’s website lists her as a property underwriting manager.

This Facebook profile of Ira Curry shows a woman with two friends who work or worked for the same company and several more friends who work in the insurance industry.

(Facebook)

5. According to One Report, She Once Filed for Bankruptcy

(Facebook)

The Daily Mail reports:

Public records show that in 1994 she and her husband Talmer, now 74, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy which gives individuals three to five years to pay off their debtors. It was discharged in 1999.