The Newest Millionaire's Wish

What, other than Silicon Valley garages, has made millionaires out of 1,144 Americans over the past two decades? The answer is state lotteries, which for three straight months have set record payouts for North America. In July a retired Bronx carpenter won $20 million in the New York State lottery, and in August eight players shared a purse of $24.6 million in the Ohio Lotto. Last week a Chicago printer, Michael Wittkowski, 28, claimed sole possession of a $40 million prize that had built up in the Illinois state lottery.

Wittkowski, who will collect his windfall in 20 annual installments of $2 million each, at first seemed unfazed. He said he planned to continue working ("If I quit, all I have to do is sit around and count my money") and promised to share his winnings with his brother, sister and father. "We want to stay just the way we are." But by the end of the press conference, the new millionaire said wearily, "I gotta go find a beer." After two days of talk shows and streams of visitors, he sought refuge farther afield. "He called me from out of state this morning," said a lottery official. "He said that he's had enough for this week."