Minnesota Lottery Winner Going Back to Waiting Tables
The winning couple say $11.7 million will change few aspects of their lives.
— -- A Minnesota couple who just won an $11.7 million lottery jackpot say their big plans to use the money include nothing “out of the ordinary,” with the wife even keeping her waitress’ job.
“I actually really enjoy my job,” newly minted multimillionaire Rhonda Meath said of her job waiting tables at the Lake Elmo Inn in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
“I have great friends here and a great boss, and it’s just really a fantastic place to work, so I have no plans of leaving,” she said.
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Meath, 51, and her husband, Joe Meath of Bethel, Minnesota, came forward Monday as the winners of Saturday’s $11.7 million Hot Lotto jackpot.
The couple, who arrived at lottery headquarters Monday with three of their four children, will take home all of the $11.7 million because Hot Lotto pays the state and federal taxes, according to ABC affiliate KSTP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
“It was just a little shocking at first,” Rhonda Meath said.
The Meaths said they will splurge on a new car but, other than that, they plan to make some charitable contributions and keep their lives the same.
“Have to still mow the grass and get mail and put grandkids on the school bus,” Rhonda Meath told ABC News.
“We’re not going to do anything out of the ordinary,” said Joe, who is retired.
In terms of charity, Joe has promised to contribute to a college fund for the teenage clerk who sold him the winning ticket at a local gas station.
Rhonda, who spends much of her free time training therapy dogs, says she will donate some of the money to a local police K-9 foundation.
While their home life remains largely the same, Rhonda predicts she will see one difference on the job.
“Oh, I think the kitchen staff is going to be a little nicer to me,” she said.