$847M Powerball winner may stay anonymous forever thanks to New Jersey exception

A New Jersey Powerball winner may keep their identity private indefinitely under a state law introduced in 2020. The exception is intended to protect winners from extortion, harassment and pressure to give away their money, while allowing them to claim a jackpot worth $847 million.

The ticket was bought at a Wegmans in Montvale, where median household income is $178,000, but officials had not confirmed whether anyone had come forward. The winner can take payments over 29 years or a $363.1 million lump sum, before taxes; anonymous claimants must still verify their identity privately and settle certain government debts. New York is considering a similar privacy measure, and other states have varying rules on keeping winners’ names confidential.