David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith: Happy Florida Jackpot Winners

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith are a couple that won one of the biggest US Powerball jackpots in history back in 2016. Most jackpot winners change their lives significantly after winning a massive jackpot but not David and Maureen.

Happy Florida Jackpot Winners

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The couple haven’t changed much about their lives and they haven’t spent their fortune on expensive cars and property. Some of the couple’s acquaintances also state that Maureen still plays the lottery frequently. I find it interesting that the couple haven’t spent their fortune on much. So I decided to find out why. Keep reading to learn more about David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith’s jackpot and where they are now.

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith – Life Before the Win

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith are originally from Long Island, New York. They got married in 1980 and moved to Melbourne Beach on the Florida coast in 1991. They have been married for 41 years. Maureen is a former Avon lady and has two children: Michael (50) and Denise (47).

On the other hand, David is a former engineer. He retired from his mechanical engineering job at Northrop Grumman after winning the US Powerball jackpot.

How Much Money Did David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Win?

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith were one of three couples that won part of the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot. The other two couples that won part of the jackpot were John and Lisa Robinson and Marvin and Mae Acosta. The three couples each received $528.7 million before taxes. David and Maureen chose the lump sum option because of their age. As a result David and Maureen took home $328 million after taxes.

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith

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David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Winning Numbers & Strategy

David and Maureen’s ex son-in-law Delgado stated that Smith would play the lottery all the time so he wasn’t surprised that the couple had eventually won. Maureen bought her winning ticket at a Publix supermarket in Melbourne, Florida.

Her lotto strategy was that she chose the same numbers every single time she played. This is a lottery strategy that has worked for many other jackpot players. Her winning combination was 4-8-19-27-34, with a Powerball of 10.  

The Reaction of Winning the Jackpot

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith couldn’t believe that they had finally won. Kaltschmidt stated that he had checked the numbers and all of them matched. He believed Maureen was playing a prank on him. 

The couple decided to keep their lottery win a secret, even from their own children. David stated that the thought of having millions kept him up at night and he even lost 10 pounds due to stress. Maureen also said she was worried about the aftereffects of winning. She didn’t want the worrying to turn her into an unkind person. However, it would seem that Maureen and David are still living modestly.

What Did David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Do with the Money?

With David and Maureen’s massive jackpot the couple could have bought mansions and high-end cars. But they haven’t spent their money on much.

Maureen bought a Tesla car and David upgraded his SUV to a gold GMC Yukon Denali. They still have the same fishing boat. Maureen also still uses recycled grocery bags when she goes shopping. The couple still live conservatively.

In an interview David said, “Instead of designing airplanes I’m going to be doing charities, tax strategies and investments.”

Where is David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Now?

The couple still live in their $300,000 home in Florida but spent some money on minor home improvements. Although they quit their day jobs after winning the lottery, the couple still do the same activities they once did before. Maureen still visits the store where she bought her lottery ticket and chats to the locals. She also walks her dog regularly. 

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Social Media Accounts

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith don’t have social media accounts. However, there are many scammers going around claiming to be the couple. Some have created fake facebook accounts and others send out emails stating that the couple are giving away a portion of their fortune.

David and Maureen aren’t giving money away to strangers on the internet. Scammers try to trick people into giving out their personal details by claiming to be lottery winners so they can steal money from you. Always report these scams to your local authorities.

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Happy Florida Jackpot Winners

Image by Fox News

What David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith Could Have Done Better?

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith did the right thing by hiring a lawyer first before claiming their prize. It was the lawyer who advised the couple to keep their jackpot win a secret which the couple said was extremely difficult to do.

Additionally, the couple still live modestly without spending their money on unnecessary goods. Kaltschmidt stated that they weren’t going to party. They were simply going to live their lives as normal.

On the other hand, I’d say that the only change I would suggest is that the couple move to an undisclosed location. It can be dangerous when people and the media know where you live when you’ve won a lottery jackpot. You could be an easy target for criminals.

FAQ

Why did David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith not claim their prize immediately? 

The couple wanted to attend a Pat Benatar concert first on February 12. They wanted to enjoy the concert without the unwanted attention from people. David and Maureen claimed their prize on February 17, 2016.

Did David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith give money away? 

Yes, the couple gave some money to several charities but did it anonymously because they didn’t want the news coverage.

Why did David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith take the lump sum?

David and Maureen decided to take the lump sum option because of their age. Maureen is in her 70s and David is in his mid 50s so the annuity option wasn’t the best choice for them.

Final Thoughts

There are very few jackpot winners who continue to live their lives as normal when they become financially free. But David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith broke that stereotype when they continued to live modestly even though they’re one of the top richest people in the US.

They are a humble couple and neighbors and friends only have good words to spread about them. David and Maureen vowed to look after their family and give their money to charities which they have done. However, they are extremely private so they don’t disclose where and how they’ve spent their money.

David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith are excellent examples to other jackpot winners. That’s not to say you shouldn’t spend your money on any luxuries but you should invest and save money where you can. I hope that David and Maureen are living a peaceful life without any burdens.