A billionaire who won one of the largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history may soon have his identity revealed due to an ongoing legal dispute with his ex-partner.
The man, who claimed a $1.35 billion Mega Millions prize in January 2023, has kept a low profile ever since. He took a lump sum payout of $723.5 million before taxes, using a Delaware-based limited liability company to collect the winnings and avoid revealing his identity, as required by Maine law.
However, a new court ruling could force him into the spotlight. A U.S. District judge decided last week that if his case against his former partner, Sara Smith, goes to trial, he cannot use a pseudonym.
The anonymous winner, identified only as “John Doe” in legal filings, has accused Smith of breaching a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by telling others, including his parents, about his lottery windfall. He is seeking at least $100,000 for each alleged disclosure.
Smith denies the allegations. She claims Doe fabricated the story in an effort to pressure her into giving up custody of their daughter. According to court records, Doe removed their daughter from school shortly after Smith signed the NDA in February 2023. He said his security team warned of a kidnapping threat. Smith alleges that a GPS watch he promised for tracking their child was turned off and mailed back to her.
In March, Smith filed an emergency court order, and the daughter was returned home. She also claimed Doe offered her money in exchange for full custody.
The legal feud has also drawn in Doe’s father. In an affidavit obtained by the New York Post, he said Doe cut him off after being asked to stop contacting Smith. The father also accused his son of reneging on promises to buy him a garage and cars to restore.
“I have not heard from my son since, and he has not done any of the things he promised,” the father wrote.
Now, with the judge’s ruling, Doe faces a difficult decision: drop the case to preserve his anonymity or move forward and risk having his identity made public. His attorneys have filed an appeal to delay the proceedings. Smith’s legal team has not responded to media requests for comment.
