In fincial situations, all monies earned by either party is 'community property' irregardless of what state they are in.

If him and her were married at the time he won, then half of it is hers to use too. And by trying to hide it from her, he can actually lose more by being penalized for doing so. And he can't treat the ticket like a car or home, by saying it's in someone else's name, cause the ticket that won was community property of the employees, not his 'daughter from a previous marriage'.

Pretty much, he's up a creek without a paddle with this one. And the way the courts (and the public will see it, cause of the media), he won the lottery and was planning on cutting his ties and starting off a new life minus the wife...Hoping she'd be none the wiser of his boon.

He's not going to get much sympathy, but she will. LOL!

Oh, and half that house he bought is hers too...Hope he didn't buy furnishing for it cause he'll have to either hand half that over or make the financial reimbursement to her if he wants to keep all of what he bought with that lottery money.