A GEELONG man at the centre of a $16.7 million Powerball legal war has gone into hiding.

Former colleagues who entered a weekly lottery syndicate with Gary Baron allege he began buying houses and flashy cars in the months after a major Tattslotto draw was announced last year.

It’s understood Mr Baron will claim that he bought a ticket for himself and not with the money from colleagues.

Tattersalls Sweeps has not revealed the name of the Victorian man who won a share of $50 million in October.

But, as reported in the Herald Sun, workers from Toll Group in North Geelong believe the ticket was bought by Mr Baron on behalf of their syndicate.

The group of 14 is launching a fight in the Supreme Court to force Tattersalls to tell them the name of the winner and how the ticket was purchased.

Mr Baron, 49, allegedly pulled a sickie from his courier job last October, the day after a $50 million draw was announced­.

Suspicions were raised that he had won when he suddenly quit.

The final “clue” was a delivery of expensive champagne.

He has since upgraded his humble home in Lara and installed a swimming pool at his son Jayden’s property.

Mr Baron has remained tight-lipped, dodging media, and is yet to confirm whether he won a cash prize.

But his workmates claim they paid $20 each for a lottery ticket.

Mr Baron has reportedly told friends that he bought two tickets — one for himself and one for the syndicate — and only his was the winner.

One Toll truckie told how workers became suspicious Mr Baron was a lottery winner when he “packed up and left” the North Geelong centre.

It has also been claimed that Mr Baron was seen driving a $200,000 BMW.

“I just heard about it all, the houses and the BMW and all that sort of stuff,” the man told Ten News.

“When it first happened, the bloke left … they (staff) all thought it was pretty sus …. just to pack up and leave real quick like he did. Everyone was a bit funny from then on.”

It’s been a stressful six months for the “Powerball 14”, who continue to support each other ahead of Thursday’s court appearance.

The group is made up of workers from the Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong and Werribee.

monique.hore@news.com.au