cruel twists of fate Mega Millions Winners Can Thank Poor Behavior for Good Fortune 
 
 If not for some dude that cut in front of him in line, Mike Barth would have missed out buying the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket for him and his six co-workers. There is pretty much no better comeback than, "Thanks for the $319 million, jerkoff." [Times Union via NPR] ||||| After taxes, it's still a fortune State workers who each won $19M recall weekend of tense excitement 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Image 1 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, of Colonie gets a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires Gabrielle Mahar, left, of Colonie gets a kiss from Boyfriend Scott Conklin of Albany after a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 2 of 15 Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 3 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Image 4 of 15 In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? In this file photograph, John Kutey, and his wife, Lynda, both of Green Island, skating at Rollarama Skating Center in Schenectady on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (Times Union) ? Image 5 of 15 Mega Millions winner Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 6 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 7 of 15 Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, 29, of Colonie, during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 8 of 15 Mega Millions winner Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)) Mega Millions winner Mike Barth, 63, of Bethlehem, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 9 of 15 Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner John Hilton, 57, of North Greenbush, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 10 of 15 Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Kristin Baldwin, 42, of Clifton Park, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. She and six other winners of the $319 million Mega ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 11 of 15 Mega Millions winner Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are state workers with the Office of Homes and Community Renewal. They bought the winning ticket at Coulson's newstand in downtown Albany, which is around the corner from their office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Mega Millions winner Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, during a news conference at the state Lottery offices in Schenectady on Thursday, March 31, 2011. He and six other winners of the $319 million Mega Millions are ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 12 of 15 In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with fellow 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany's City Hall, Wednesday, May 2,2001 . From left are : Kristy Kruse; Shannon Rivers; Andrea Drago; Amy Kaplan; and Mahar. In this photograph, future Mega Millions winner Gabrielle Mahar, right, can be seen with fellow 2001 Tulip Queen candidates during a press conference outside Albany's City Hall, Wednesday, May 2,2001 . From ... more Image 13 of 15 Posing with a "Lottery Cake" are , from left, Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, the Lottery's Yolanda Vega, Tracy Sussman of Colonie, John Kutey of Green Island, Gabrielle Mahar of Colonie and John Hilton of North Greenbush during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) Posing with a "Lottery Cake" are , from left, Newest lottery millionaires, from left, Leon Peck of Johnstown, N.Y. Lottery Director Gordon Medencia Kristin Baldwin of Clifton Park, Mike Barth of Bethlehem, the ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 14 of 15 One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, recounts his experience to the Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady Thursday morning March 31, 2011. The seven winners of the $319 million Mega Millions, are state workers with the NYS Homes and Community Renewal and bought the winning ticket at Coulson's, around the corner from their downtown Albany office. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) One of seven new lottery millionaires, John Hilton of North Greenbush, center, recounts his experience to the Lottery's Yolanda Vega during a news conference at the New York Lottery offices in Schenectady ... more Photo: John Carl D'Annibale Image 15 of 15 After taxes, it's still a fortune 1 / 15 Back to Gallery 
 
 Schenectady 
 
 The $319 million lottery ticket, palm-sized and flimsy enough to blow away in a gust of wind, burned in John Hilton's hands, a stigmata that had marked seven state workers with seemingly unworldly fortunes. 
 
 But if the slip of paper with six magical numbers was lost or stolen, the four men and three women would go back to being just a random assemblage of public employees: five IT specialists and two project managers at New York State Homes and Community Renewal in Albany. 
 
 Hilton placed the ticket into a plastic zip lock bag, stuffed that bag into a second one, pushed it deep into a 5-pound bucket of bird feed from his garage and carried the bucket into the basement, where he hid it. 
 
 Earlier that Saturday, Hilton had driven to the office at the Hampton Plaza on State Street, a few steps from Coulson's, the Broadway newsstand where co-worker Mike Barth bought the ticket Friday afternoon. 
 
 Barth had left it unsecured in his desk drawer, but he was with his son Saturday on a campus tour at the University at Buffalo. He spoke with Hilton, who agreed to retrieve the ticket for safekeeping. 
 
 "I need a bodyguard," Hilton thought, and tapped his son to ride along while he transferred the ticket to their home in North Greenbush. 
 
 Hilton was fidgety harboring the secret. 
 
 "He was like Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings,' protecting the ticket like it was his 'precious,' " said Barth, 63, of Bethlehem. 
 
 Hilton, 57, was relieved when he handed off the ticket on Sunday, still in the bucket, when the lucky seven met at the Clifton Park home of Kristin Baldwin, 42. 
 
 The first plan was to store the ticket in a safe deposit box. But nobody had one. They called a banker friend and learned they couldn't get one until Monday. 
 
 Baldwin's husband remembered they had a fireproof lockbox that they'd never used. They placed the ticket inside and hid it in their home. 
 
 The winners made a pact to take the ticket as a group the next day, Monday, to lottery headquarters in Schenectady where they made it official. They signed a form that confirmed that they had the ticket with the numbers: 22, 24, 31, 52, 54 and Mega Ball 4. The only winning sequence had been generated as a Quick Pick. 
 
 More Information 
 
 The $319 million is the largest jackpot in state lottery history and the fifth-largest in the history of Mega Millions, which is played in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
 
 Each chose the lump-sum option of $19,129,571 -- after state and federal taxes. 
 
 For six surreal days, none of them returned to work, living in a kind of self-imposed lockdown. They conferred with relatives, tax attorneys and financial advisers. They made themselves scarce. Loyal co-workers closed ranks and did not reveal their identities. 
 
 On Thursday, the winners seemed nervous as they faced a media scrum, with CNN and "Inside Edition" joining the local outlets. 
 
 The winners are techies, comfortable with the cold logic of computer code. Hitting the Mega Millions was a bolt of pure mojo. 
 
 John Kutey, 54, of Green Island, recalled that his hands shook so badly when he learned they had won that he couldn't dial a phone. 
 
 Prompted by questions from bubbly lottery personality Yolanda Vega, the winners offered a recap of those crowded hours when it dawned on them that they were multimillionaires. 
 
 All indicated they were doubtful that they would return to state employment, where their compensation was in the $80,000 range. With their $19.1 million, invested conservatively and assuming a 5 percent return, they can expect to draw about $950,000 a year without draining the principal. 
 
 The game-changer was set in motion Friday afternoon, when Barth collected $2 from himself and six co-workers. They were among a dozen in the IT unit who played as a group for years, but only when a jackpot climbed above $100 million. Barth kept a list of names because the number of bettors was fluid. If someone was on vacation, out of the office or did not choose to play that time for whatever reason, he crossed the name off his list. That meant ,they were not entitled to share in any winnings. Everyone understood those were the rules, the group said. 
 
 Barth took the $14 next door to Coulson's at 2:40 p.m. where a small queue had formed for lottery tickets. When Barth's turn came up, he spied a Snickers Dark candy bar and leaned over to snag it when a guy cut in front of him. He thought it was rude, but said nothing. 
 
 "He might have won the winning ticket instead of me," Barth mused Thursday. 
 
 Mahar, 29, of Colonie, was the first in the group to realize they had the winner. She was watching the 11 o'clock news with her boyfriend Friday night when the winning numbers crawled across the screen. 
 
 After checking and rechecking the winning numbers against the photocopy, she excitedly told her boyfriend, Scott Conklin, a co-worker in human resources. She called a close friend and her mother. 
 
 At Thursday's media event, someone shouted at Mahar from the packed lottery lobby: "Are you married?' 
 
 Flustered, she replied, "Not yet." 
 
 Mahar is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was a Tulip Queen finalist in 2001 who told pageant officials that she hoped to have her own business one day. 
 
 Kutey, 54, and his wife, Lynda, of Green Island are planning a trip to Disney World, the couple's annual vacation destination. 
 
 "I don't have any big plans. I haven't been able to adjust to it yet," said Tracy Sussman, 41, of Colonie, who is single, and who looks forward to spoiling a niece and nephew. 
 
 "I think the other five are happy for us," said Sussman. She avoided answering questions about whether they'd share any of their winnings with the five left out. 
 
 When he got his early-morning phone call on Saturday, Leon Peck, 62, of Johnstown, said he thought it was the office calling to say a server was down again. It was Mahar. "We hit the Mega," she said. "What?" Peck asked -- several times. 
 
 Barth proved to be the group's resident quipster. "My family got bigger all of a sudden," he said. He also joked that he was glad state lawmakers did not try to pass the "millionaire's tax." 
 
 On Thursday, Mahar was the only winner with a specific purchase in mind: "I just want a dishwasher." 
 
 She and her boyfriend have been taking turns washing the dishes by hand in her small, tidy bungalow. But not for long. 
 
 Reach Paul Grondahl at 454-5623 or pgrondahl@timesunion.com.
– How’s this for karma: A man in Albany pushed ahead in line for a Mega Millions lottery ticket—and the guy he shoved aside got the winning Quick Pick. The man “actually cut in front of me to buy a ticket,” said Mike Barth. “I thought about saying something but let it slide.” His coworkers are thanking him: Six of them bought the ticket as a group, so they’re due $19.1 million each after taxes, the Times Union reports. “There is pretty much no better comeback than, ‘Thanks for the $319 million, jerkoff,’” notes the Daily Intel blog. The winners, all state IT workers, range in age from 29 to 63. Click here to read about the poor soul who decided not to go in on the ticket with the lucky six, even though he normally did.