Marriott Millionaire's Son Wins $107 Million in Virginia Lotto
Brian McCarthy, 25, found out on Facebook that he had hit the jackpot.
Sept. 9, 2011 — -- Some people have all the luck. Brian McCarthy, son of millionaire Marriott president Robert McCarthy, can add an extra $107 million to his family fortune from the Virginia lottery.
The 25-year-old bachelor bought five tickets on a whim at the Herndon, Va., grocery store Giant. He had gone in to use the ATM and bought five tickets without even knowing how much the prize money was. He didn't even pick personal lucky numbers, letting the computer pick them for him.
A few days later, he checked Facebook for the winning numbers and got the surprise of a lifetime.
"I jumped out of bed, poured my wallet out and looked at the numbers and I had the ticket," McCarthy told ABC's Washington D.C. affiliate WJLA.
When McCarthy collected the money, he chose to take the lump sum instead of receiving the money in yearly payments over the course of 26 years. The lump sum totaled $68 million before taxes.
"I'd like my family to be able to enjoy it as much as I can. And also help out some charities along the way," McCarthy said.
Millionaire's Son Wins $107 Million Lottery
At the time, McCarthy was working as an account manager for Pepsi. He has since left that job.
So far, he has taken a golfing trip to Ireland, traveled to Alaska with his sister and bought a BMW M3, a car that starts at about $59,000. As for charities, he has donated $25,000 each to two, including the Herndon Optimist Club, which helps local children.
"It's a surreal feeling. It's something that you read about in the newspaper about somebody else," the lottery winner's dad, Robert McCarthy, told WJLA. "And so when it affects you in a great way, I think [there are] a lot of good things with it, but it also comes with a serious amount of responsibility."
As the Marriott president, McCarthy's father oversees the finances and leadership of over 3,500 hotels in the Americas, spanning multiple brands. He also oversees Ritz-Carlton for the corporation, according to the Marriott's website.
Forbes reports that Robert McCarthy made over $1.2 million in 2009.
Despite all the attention, Brian McCarthy's grandma is unfazed by the news. "I said, 'Hey grammy, I won the lottery,' and she said, 'Good for you. You deserve it…I'm making a grilled cheese, would you like one?'"
McCarthy isn't the first case of the rich getting richer from the lottery. In 2008, a millionaire banker who grew up in Long Island, N.Y., won the state's first "$1 million a year for life" scratch-off game. And, as icing on the cake, since Kenan Altunis lives in London, he does not have to pay taxes on his prize. This means he gets $931,500 a year for the rest of his life.
And in 2007, Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner won the lottery for the third time. He has won $250,000 and $1,000 twice. He is the millionaire heir to the Kimberly-Clark fortune, which is responsible for Kleenex and Scott paper towels. He is reportedly worth over $11 million.
