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An American woman who won $710 million ($US 560 million) in Powerball last month will lose the nine-figure sum unless she agrees to be identified.
Under lottery rules, the woman, who is going by the name Jane Doe, must be identified to the public in order to claim the winnings.
Now the New Hampshire woman is asking a court to allow her to keep the money, while also remaining anonymous.
In court documents obtained by NewHamshire.com, the woman said she wanted to remain ‘far from the glare and misfortune that has often fallen upon other lottery winners.’
‘She is a longtime resident of New Hampshire and is an engaged community member,’ the woman’s attorney, Steven Gordon, wrote in the court documents.
‘She wishes to continue this work and the freedom to walk into a grocery store or attend public events without being known or targeted as the winner of a half-billion dollars.’
New Hampshire lottery rules require the winner’s name, town and amount won be available for public information, in accordance with open-records laws.
In a statement, New Hampshire lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre said the woman needs to abide by these rules ‘like any other.’
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