Anonymous $1.35B Mega Millions Winner to Drop NDA Lawsuit Against Ex-Partner

An anonymous man who won the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot in 2023 and later sued his ex-partner, alleging she violated a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by telling her family about the win, is now about to drop the case, or he’ll likely have to reveal his identity. What Led to the Lawsuit? Referred to simply as “John Doe” in court documents, the man sued the mother of his child, identified as “Sara Smith,” seeking an injunction barring her from disclosing any further information about the jackpot. In addition, the man wanted Smith to identify everyone she had informed and pay compensatory damages of at least $100,000 for each alleged breach of the NDA. The NDA was intended to promote Doe’s safety and security, and that of Smith and their daughter, court documents say. However, Smith’s attorneys claimed that she did not break the NDA and instead, the lawsuit was designed to pressure her amid an ongoing custody battle for the child. According to Smith, Doe had hired a private security team to follow her and her daughter daily. Why Doe Plans to Drop the Case? The case has been going on for almost three years now, and it appears that Doe might drop it altogether because of a court ruling from last year. The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling from April 2025, which denies Doe’s request for a closed trial. This means that the man would have to reveal his identity if he wishes to proceed with the case. The appellate panel agreed with the lower court judge’s decision, saying that such a closed trial would run “hard against [the] historic concept of what the courts are and what they are not in this country.” According to Doe’s attorneys, he was faced with an unavoidable Catch-22, as even if he were to win on his claims, his identity and confidential information would be revealed to the media and public. Meanwhile, in an interview for the Portland Press Herald earlier this week, Peter Brann, one of Smith’s attorneys, said he plans to oppose the motion to dismiss because it was filed “without prejudice.” According to him, Doe can turn around and file another “baseless lawsuit” against the defendant. In other news about Mega Millions, the newest jackpot has reached $244 million following this week’s draw.