Minnesota couple claims $180 million Powerball jackpot
Posted: 5/6/2008 5:40:37 PM
Paul and Sue Rosenau are Minnesota's newest millionaires.
The Waseca couple appeared this afternoon at a news conference at Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville, introduced as the lucky winners of Saturday's $180.1 million Powerball drawing. The Rosenaus said they'll take the lump-sum payment of $88 million, or $59.6 million after taxes.
The Rosenaus, both 54, hit the largest Powerball jackpot in state history. The Rosenaus have three adult children, and just last week had their second grandchild. Their first grandchild, Makayla, died as a toddler from a genetic disorder five years to the day of the Powerball drawing.
"I guess there was divine intervention," Paul Rosenau said. "This happened for a reason."
They said they don't intend to change much in their lives, for now. They'll keep their jobs and intend to remain in Waseca, but they have already unlisted their phone number.
As for what they'll do with the money, Sue Rosenau has ideas of a trip to Hawaii while Paul Rosenau spoke of philanthropic plans, including giving money for research toward the disorder that took their granddaughter's life.
The Rosenaus were accompanied to Roseville today by their accountant, Dale DeRaad.
"They are just excited," DeRaad said this morning. "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.
Paul Rosenau said he bought the ticket at a HyVee store in Faribault, Minn.
The winning numbers were 2, 28, 36, 42 and 46 and the Powerball 40.
DeRaad said the Rosenaus client called him at 7 a.m. Monday to tell him that they held winning ticket. DeRaad said he made a photocopy of the ticket.
The Rosenaus are the 20th Powerball jackpot winner in the state since the game began in 1992.
Minnesota's biggest Powerball winners
- June 30, 1999: Farrah Slad, Brainerd, won $150 million. Took cash option of $78.8 million.
- Aug. 14, 2004: Mary Beth and David Wenell of Eden Prairie won $98.6 million. They took cash option of $53.1 million.
- Oct. 25, 2003: Sixteen employees of Holdingford, Minn., schools won $95.5 million. Took cash option of $49.7 million.
- Aug. 25, 2001: Sheryel Hanuman, Minneapolis, won one-fourth of a $295 million jackpot ($73.7 million). She took the cash option of $41.4 million for her share.
- Oct. 30, 1999: John and Sandy Wynne, Oakdale, won $61.1 million. Took cash option of $31 million.
- March 4, 2000: Keith and Carol Goergen, Elgin, Minn., won one-third of a $150.1 million jackpot. Took cash option of $25.9 million.
- Sept. 26, 1998: Ron and Jenny Cronkhite, Moorhead, won $49.2 million. Took cash option of $28.4 million.
(Click for full-size image.) Sue and Paul Rosenau are the winners of the largest lottery prize ever awarded in Minnesota — the $180.1 million Powerball. The couple said they won the jackpot exactly five years after the death of their 2-year-old granddaughter. Sue Rosenau said they must have an angel.
Source: Star Tribune
