Powerball: Minnesota couple to claim $180M Powerball lottery jackpot
Couple could present winning lottery ticket at Lottery HQ today
A middle-aged couple from Waseca County in southern Minnesota is expected to come forward today and claim the largest Powerball prize ever won in the state.
The winners' accountant, Dale Deraad, said his clients are making preparations to appear at state lottery headquarters in Roseville this afternoon to certify the winning ticket worth $180.1 million.
"They are just excited," Deraad said. "They are just wonderful people."
In matching all five white balls and the red Powerball, the winners defied the staggering odds of 1 in 146,107,962 to win the jackpot. Deraad said the couple has played the lottery occasionally in the past, but bought only one ticket for Saturday's drawing.
Deraad declined to say when or where the couple bought the winning ticket, but lottery officials say it was sold in Rice County. The winning numbers were 2, 28, 36, 42 and 46 and the Powerball 40.
Deraad said his clients called him at 7 a.m. Monday to tell him that they held winning ticket. Deraad said he has seen the ticket, which is now in a safe place.
"We hope to have a press conference this afternoon," said Debbie Hoffman, a lottery spokeswoman.
If certified, the couple will become the 20th Powerball jackpot winner in the state since the game began in 1992.
The holder of the winning ticket will have the choice of receiving $180.1 million over 30 years, or the lump-sum payment of $88 million — $59.6 million after taxes.