(NewsNation) — A man who won $1.35 billion playing Mega Millions is now fighting his family in court, with relatives saying he owes them part of the jackpot.
The Maine man, who is named as John Doe, won the jackpot in January of 2023, opting for the lump sum payment. After taxes, that left him with a little over $500 million.
The winner went to great lengths to keep his identity a secret, including suing his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child for allegedly violating a non-disclosure agreement that would keep the win a secret until the child turned 18 in 2032.
The woman, identified by the pseudonym Sarah Smith, said he was the one who spilled the beans and that he was using the money to try to pressure her as they fought over custody of their daughter. She also claimed he was using the lawsuit as revenge for not getting back together with him.
In the latest round of court filings, Doe’s own family turned against him. His father claims that he promised to buy a garage and set up a trust fund, among other things, with some of the money.
But, he says, Doe backed out when his father refused to stop speaking to Smith.
Additional allegations include Smith’s claims that Doe’s security team has followed and surveilled her and that he kidnapped their daughter. For his part, Doe claims they have joint custody and he was allowed to take his daughter on a trip and Smith claimed kidnapping when he refused to give her money.
Smith has also filed a request with the court to make the couple’s identities public, which Doe is fighting.
