James F. Stocklas

Powerball Winner • PA • 2016

Jackpot (2024$)

$385,000,000

lump sum

Age at Win

Magisterial District Judge, Northampton County, PA

Quick Facts

Win Date: March 2, 2016
State: PA
Winner Type: syndicate
Marital Status: divorced
Ticket Type: Quick Pick
Payment Choice: lump sum
After Tax: $110M

Timeline

Date unknown

Bought ticket at Tom Thumb, Marathon, FL

Stopped to buy ice for RV convoy returning from fishing trip. Pooled $10 for Powerball with Barry Bartakovits and anonymous woman.

Date unknown

Won $291.4M Powerball

Numbers: 12-13-44-52-62 PB:06. 3-way syndicate split.

Date unknown

Discovered win at breakfast diner

Saw headline on phone at Chris's Diner. 'I was shaking for an hour straight.' Paid for everyone's breakfast.

Date unknown

Chartered jet to Tallahassee

Same-day claim. $191.5M cash option split 3 ways. ~$36.6M net per person after 39.6% federal + 3.07% PA state tax.

Date unknown

Viral $7 brother photo

Brother Bob also bought ticket in same draw - won $7. Florida Lottery staged photo with both holding giant checks. Image went viral globally.

Date unknown

Son Jimmy died of opioid overdose

James Bradley 'Jimmy' Stocklas (age 41) died despite 24-hour home care. Had traumatic brain injury from 2012.

Date unknown

Wrongful death lawsuit filed

Family sued Comfort Keepers (MD Enterprises) for failure of care leading to Jimmy's death.

Analysis

Protective Factors

+professional_identity_as_judge
+continued_working
+syndicate_split_reduced_individual_pressure
+established_social_network
+immediate_professional_claim_execution
+bartakovits_also_continued_business
+no_ostentatious_lifestyle

How They Found Out

At his regular Bethlehem diner breakfast, Stocklas checked phone, saw Florida winner news. Verified ticket and was "shaking for an hour straight." Bought breakfast for everyone in the restaurant shouting "I'm a millionaire!"

Research Quality: high • Last Updated: 12/27/2024 • Years Tracked: 8

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