> Also, why would this person be any more of a target than the publicly known shareholders of public companies that have more than a billion?

Because rich people have (sometimes multi-generational) experience at being rich. They have multiple layers of security that include lawyers, armed guards, armored vehicles. Also, they invest most of their assets in not easily transferable ways.

A jackpot winner is just a middle class joe with a big pile of cash and a target on his back. If you were a lion, wich prey would you pick? The tame cow of the wild buffalo?

Most states have rules that you have to declare your identity to claim the prize. So no shell corporations, LLCs, law firms, etc. allowed. AFAIK, only Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina allow you to keep your identity private.

Bill Ford has corporate security protecting him. Mary Barra at GM does too. They probably get whackos coming after them all the time for concealing the existence of the 100 mpg carburetor, etc.

Winners are required to declare their identity to the lottery commission to claim the prize--but they do not have to agree to have their identity publicized in most states.

Many winners choose not to be publicly identify. As I recall, one of the winners of last years bigger jackpots chose to remain anonymous.