Largest bail amount by a lottery player was $21 million by Powerball winner Marie Holmes
/The largest amount spent on bail by a lottery player in the USA is reported to be $21 million by Marie Holmes, a Powerball lottery winner.
Holmes won a $188 million Powerball jackpot and received $88 million after taxes from her 2015 win.
But she used a large portion of her Powerball winnings to bail her boyfriend, Lamarr McDow (right), out of jail on multiple occasions.
The bail payments included $3 million for his initial release, followed by $6 million and $12 million for subsequent arrests, totaling $21 million.
These payments were made several times when McDow faced various charges.
Was this a full payment? And if not, how much did Powerball multi-millionaire Holmes have left over from her bail spend?
It seems bail payments are complex.
Bail Bondsman's Fee
When someone uses a bail bondsman's services, they typically pay a non-refundable fee, usually about 10% of the total bail amount.
This fee is the cost of the bondsman's services and is not returned, regardless of the case's outcome.
Bail refunds
The actual bail money posted as a guarantee for the defendant's appearance in court can be refunded if the defendant adheres to all the terms of their release, including appearing for all court dates.
If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bail can be forfeited.
Holmes' bail
In Marie Holmes' case, it's unclear whether she used a bail bondsman or paid the bail directly. If she used a bail bondsman, the fees she paid (10% of the total bail amount) would not be refunded.
If she paid the bail directly, and McDow adhered to the conditions of his bail (including appearing for all court dates), the bail amount would typically be eligible for refund minus any court fees or fines.
The Outcome
The refund of the bail money paid by Marie Holmes for Lamarr McDow depends on two factors: whether she paid directly or used a bail bondsman, and whether McDow met all the bail conditions, including appearing in court.
If she used a bail bondsman, the fee she paid (typically about 10% of the bail amount) is non-refundable.
If Holmes paid the bail directly and McDow followed all bail conditions, the bail amount would be eligible for refund, minus any court-related costs.
There is no public information available at the moment that confirms whether the bail was refunded in this case.
