+51 @Routine-Difficulty69 Back in 2022, the record winner for the $2.04 billion, Edwin Castro, ditched the announcement event and avoided interviews. He managed to keep a pretty low profile other than the weird guy who tried to claim that Castro stole his numbers. I'm guess that so long as the identity is known, you don't really have to broadcast yourself to th public. That, and he claimed his winnings months after the drawing once the heat died down a little. Of course, there are going to be tabloids who may try to get some info, but the general public don't care.

+25 @BabiesatemydingoNSW Connecticut now only releases the first name of the winner to protect them from scammers. I'd think you could show up for the photo with the big fake check in a disguise and they couldn't stop you. You can also have your name removed from the winner's page on the CT Lottery web page.

+22 @Eagle_Fang135 Create a plan. Delete social media. Get some burner phones. Once the trust is created get a new phone plan under an LLC or something inside the trust. Move all valuables (stuff that cannot be replaced) to a storage unit under another LLC. Or even better rent a house somewhere so you can keep an eye on it. Once you claim essentially disappear for a while. Normal people are not going looking for you. Randos won’t find you. Sure some people will but none that already know you. Once it all dies down (probably 2weeks, right?) reestablish yourself under the trust/LLC. That is my first pass plan. I would be seeking out a professional security firm along with getting kidnap insurance for my immediate family. I expect they include or provide guidance/advice.

+19 @DrTriage I’d just claim it as me and get good at saying ‘no’

+17 @midncoffey My extensive research (Google) says that it’s pretty easy to change your name in Washington state. Rent an apartment there to establish residency, change your name, claim the prize in CA, then change your name back in Washington or another state of your choice. Anyone looking to be nosy will most likely search name change records in CA and you probably could get the records sealed anyways. I’m sure if you had the winning ticket a team of lawyers could come up with an even more effective plan.  

+12 @mgillette55 The last winner in California was gone during the interview, no show of her face but you have first and last name posted. I'm a Cali native living in Colorado and its first name with last initial. I see people covering their face with the check all the time, assuming you could get away with that in Cali too. I honestly think I'd wait until the last week to claim with a large jackpot, once the hype has died down. I dont even remember the name of the lady who won, or the guy in Oregon this year. I really don't think people care that much. I would keep my current house for a year and not upgrade our cars. Luckily we just moved in to our house so doing some minor upgrades wouldn't look suspicious. I'd use the same name different person line and obviously the lack of lifestyle change would sell that. Eventually we'd move back to California and at that point I'd have no concerns. If you're that concerned just keep a really low profile for a while.