Florida to reveal winner of $590.5 million Powerball lottery

Jun 5, 2013, 3:21 pm (22 comments)

Powerball

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A woman from Zephyrhills, Florida, has stepped forward to claim last month's $590.5 million Powerball jackpot, the largest in U.S. history.

The Florida Lottery scheduled a news conference for this afternoon in Tallahassee, promising "big news" about the Powerball winner.

The winning ticket was sold at a Zephyrhills Publix. Though speculation about the winner's identity was rampant in the east Pasco town, no winner had come forward since the drawing.

Around noon Wednesday, the unnamed woman walked into Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee to claim the one-time lump sum option of $370 million, said Megan Dougherty, a spokesman for the Florida Lottery. She opted to bypass a second option: the entire $590.5 million in 30 annual payments.

The winner's identity was not immediately released, but lottery officials said it was a woman from Zephyrhills, where the winning ticket was sold May 18, the day of the drawing. She came to claim her prize with her son and two attorneys.

"They just walked right through the door," Dougherty said. "They didn't give anyone a heads-up. We were just as shocked as anyone else. They went up to our front desk to check in to see what they needed to do."

Dougherty said she had 60 days from the date of the drawing to claim a lump-sum prize. She could have waited until mid November to claim annual cash payments.

The news conference will be held at the Florida Lottery's office at 240 Marriott Drive in Tallahassee to announce the winner, who won't be there for privacy reasons, she said. The name will be revealed at the news conference — under state law, the winner cannot remain anonymous.

At the Publix store where the ticket was sold, shoppers were buzzing Wednesday afternoon with news of the winner stepping forward.

"I'm glad somebody's going to be a millionaire," said Mike Castillo, who works at the nearby VA clinic. He clutched his own newly purchased ticket. "It's $50 million now. We have a work pool."

Said Mike Gregory, who lives north of the city: "We've been waiting to see who it is."

Tampa Bay Times

Comments

Nino224's avatarNino224

According to the statement read at the press conference, 84 y.o. Mackenzie was standing in line when the person in front of her was kind enough to let her go ahead. Mackenzie then purchased a SINGLE, QUICK-PICK ticket, which turned out to be the largest, single jackpot won in this state.

I feel sorry for every senior citizen hoping to be let skip ahead in future lottery lines, LOL!!!

noise-gate

Congratulations to the Winner. Live long & Prosper.
Party

* Nino- there is no way of knowing whether the person in front of the winner was going to purchase a QP.
Luck favors the prepared.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jun 5, 2013

Congratulations to the Winner. Live long & Prosper.
Party

* Nino- there is no way of knowing whether the person in front of the winner was going to purchase a QP.
Luck favors the prepared.

I wish her a long and healthy life or least whats left of it

dumars798's avatardumars798

Invest & Spend without making new friends, also hope you have a good lawyer!

Big congrats to you!   

 Hurray!

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

so 2 lawyer double team it

and she bolts right atfer the claim

"she won't be at media press"

she must of already been packed,and has left the building 

by time media try to find her, she be Long gone?

so long big winner

be intresting to watch to see how fast the media will get to her.

 "We hope that everyone will give us an opportunity to maintain our privacy for our family’s benefit."

this odd lady is out of her mind to think this

u just won biggest amount 1 ticket ever won,and U THINK u have the opportunity to maintain the privacy u had before

your out of your mind lady.  "we hope".  that says it all, she "hopes"  hope don't do jack, ask obama about hes hope

, it takes action not words fool.

and she just given away her privacy by going public,  she didn't want to use ever loophole to bypass public records

no instand, she: hopesNo Nod for privacy

i don't care if florida demanda name, it could of been bypassed via all kinds of tricks/legal middle etc

i won't feel sorry for this lady when ever begger on earth shows up /plus media looking for news story comes nocking

she won't have her privacy to media gets there pound of flesh

also biggest CASH jackpot winner  is also one of oddest of all time?

also the moral of the story, is never let a odd person cut u off

 

Prior to the drawing, Mackenzie agreed to split any proceeds with her son,
will this kid is mega rich thanks to hes mom

now that is parent taking care of her kid, massive respect

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Nino224 on Jun 5, 2013

According to the statement read at the press conference, 84 y.o. Mackenzie was standing in line when the person in front of her was kind enough to let her go ahead. Mackenzie then purchased a SINGLE, QUICK-PICK ticket, which turned out to be the largest, single jackpot won in this state.

I feel sorry for every senior citizen hoping to be let skip ahead in future lottery lines, LOL!!!

I remember reading a similar story about a winner in England a few years ago.  This guy allowed a lady to go ahead of him and she bought the winner which was also a record amount at the time.  Since she was a drinking buddy of his, he'd hope she would get in touch and maybe get him something but no such luck.  She and her family moved out of town and probably never dropped by his pub again.

Nino224's avatarNino224

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jun 5, 2013

Congratulations to the Winner. Live long & Prosper.
Party

* Nino- there is no way of knowing whether the person in front of the winner was going to purchase a QP.
Luck favors the prepared.

Only that person knows. Regardless of their views on fate, I'm sure it's something they're going to wrestle with for many years to come.

Saylorgirl's avatarSaylorgirl

The moral of this story is never let anyone regardless of their age cut in front of you!!!  Congratulations to the winner and condolences to the one that let her go ahead of her.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulation to the winnersThumbs Up

brees2012's avatarbrees2012

         They were there 2 hours and lottery officials didn't call the media ????

          There must been a plan to slip out of there that quick . No offense ,

           84 year old can't run that fast .

           Always said .........Have a plan and 1/2 packed ........

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jun 5, 2013

I remember reading a similar story about a winner in England a few years ago.  This guy allowed a lady to go ahead of him and she bought the winner which was also a record amount at the time.  Since she was a drinking buddy of his, he'd hope she would get in touch and maybe get him something but no such luck.  She and her family moved out of town and probably never dropped by his pub again.

that's cold...that's cold...No Nod

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jun 5, 2013

I remember reading a similar story about a winner in England a few years ago.  This guy allowed a lady to go ahead of him and she bought the winner which was also a record amount at the time.  Since she was a drinking buddy of his, he'd hope she would get in touch and maybe get him something but no such luck.  She and her family moved out of town and probably never dropped by his pub again.

Then again there was a story where someone rudely cut in line and bought a bunch of losing tickets before the jackpot winning ticket was bought. https://www.lotterypost.com/news/258982

....As Finkelstein Reader tried explaining she wanted 120 tickets, a line formed behind her.

People began to yell and one impatient man skipped to another line and purchased a bunch of tickets.

Finally, Finkelstein Reader was able to get her second batch — after the man who'd cut in front of her got his.

The winner was in the second batch

"We wouldn't have won if it wasn't for that," said Finkelstein Reader....

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congratulations Mackenzie Partyspend wisely

lottoguysocal's avatarlottoguysocal

CONGRATS TO THE WINNER!!  May she have a peaceful time and enjoy her new found wealth! Party

Subscribe to this news story