Lottery officials in Missouri say a winning Powerball ticket for the record $588 million drawing has been turned-in and verified.
A news conference is expected to be held Friday afternoon.
This Friday morning, two small communities are waiting, along with the rest of the country, to find out who bought winning Powerball tickets at this Missouri convenience store and this food mart in Arizona.
"Nothing like this has ever happened in Dearborn."
"Fountain Hills is a pretty small town, and you know most everybody so it will be interesting to see who it is," says Dianne Ohm.
Lottery officials say it could be a while before neighbors find out who the new multi-millionaires in their community might be.
"I think it is important for the winner to be thoughtful and make some plans and then come in and celebrate so I think it usually takes a little time but you never know," says Arizona lottery spokesperson Karen Bach.
While they wait for the news, many in the small towns where the winning tickets were sold now wonder if it could have been them.
"This is the one time I wished I had listened to my husband; he texted me last night and said 'you better go buy a Powerball ticket.' And I said 'honey, we don't play the lottery.' And he said 'just go do it.' And I didn't. And I didn't listen. Aghhhhh."
Now we're all waiting to hear from the winners.
There was a news story on the Today show this morning on this couple, along with an interview of the mother in law and a family friend.
All comments indicated this couldn't have happened to a more deserving couple. They have adopted children from foreign countries.
Interestingly their chosen numbers were all QP's!
The lottery winner is Mark Hill
That was fast. I wonder if they already got a financial planner and laywer. If it was me who won I would have put together a legal team as well as take my time turning in the lottery ticket to get the media all worked up on who won. I would then turn in the ticket during some kind of trategy that all of thew news channels would be busy with.
If I won the lottery, you know what I would scared of? Getting robbed the second I walk out the door
I thought only movie stars adopted children from foreign countries.........
Congratulations to the winners.....
Congratulations to the QP's....
There won't be much of a mystery about the winners of this jackpot. One guy already coming forward and another one spotted in Maryland checking a ticket he brought in Arizona.
Puh-leezzzzzzze.
All this rubbish about gathering a legal team and turning the ticket in at the ''right moment''. Possibly when the news is covering something traggic? haha.. NO. GOOD ADVICE THO!
But if it was me who won I would have turned the ticket in immediately or at least no more than two weeks after i've won. People are still talking about the mega millions last jackpot and a prize this big is going to be in the spotlight for awhile so with that said I'd claim and get it out the way now rather than later and I'd worry later about setting up everything because I'd be too scared I'd lose the ticket or it'd get stolen or ruined...lol
I believe the majority of the people on this board talking about setting up legal teams would probably run 1st thing to headquarters and claim the next day. Easy to say and dream about what u'd do vs doing what you would do if you had the actual ticket.
I agree with you on that. Just seen it on the news where this guy was showing everybody his ticket, to see if he has the correct numbers. Even handed it to a man to check for him. He is living dangerrously if you ask me. congrats to him, hope he plan's it out right.
I would NOT be much for running scared and hiding from the public like so many LP'ers seem to be.
Getting me some numbers together for Saturday's drawing. I'll take half of 40 million.
Once a pattern of 10-15 rollovers develops, people will quit playing after a Jackpot.
Yea, You might be right, but I only play 6 dollars worth, without PP. I have birthday numbers numbers I also play. 2 lines of my birthday numbers, then 1 qp.
They had $262.5 million in sales on this last draw.......
WOWEEEEE!
Hulk, some people are prepared in advance there was a lady that won the poweball in Iowa I believe in September Mary Lohse $202 she calimed her prize within a week as well.
"Mary and Brian Lohse said they had done their homework in advance by meeting with financial planners and had some very specific plans for the future as they claimed their big prize"
http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2012/092612IA_Lohse.shtml
Yeah, and it took them 7 draws to get past $10 million in sales per draw.......
Hey Mcginnin, isn't it interesting that the winning ticket in MO was a quick pick?
Just before the drawing there were many players on LP stating that QP's are no good and that self picks are the only way to win a jackpot.
Hmmm....to all the QP haters:
Right golfer, the PB haters & the QP haters, need to form a Hate Club!
This guy went on Facebook and told everyone he won. How dumb can you get? Why on God's earth would you do something like that?
Venom, He probably did it because he's very excited, he doesn't play the lottery much, and he's not an LP expert. A spontaneous response but I understand where you're coming from, he'll pay for this mistake big time.
It appears to me that Hulk311 has more of a fascination with the seemingly impressive language of "putting together a legal team" than he remotely understands the implications of getting involved with, and dealing with real Incredible Hulks, which many lawyers are, and/or try to be.
Congrats to the winners! where ever you are, what a wonderful christmas it will be
So much for creating "BETTER ODDS" for yourself by picking your own numbers. Random is random, by its very definition you can't predict it.
Of course, the whole idea of "BETTER ODDS" reveals a complete lack of understanding of the concepts of odds and probability. Past performance does not indicate future results, and being good at guessing numbers is not the same thing as having "BETTER ODDS", it just means you're lucky.
Congrats to this winner! What a merry Christmas it will be at his home full of adopted kids (if this is the true winner).
the government will take the other half.
Here's the lucky couple!
Yeah, one man told everybody he won and he and his wife got murdered