Winner of record $590.5 million Powerball lottery jackpot announced

Jun 5, 2013, 4:13 pm (165 comments)

Powerball

Includes video report

By Todd Northrop

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — At a press conference today, the Florida Lottery announced that the $590.5 million jackpot from the Powerball drawing held on May 18 was claimed by Gloria C. MacKenzie, 84, of Zephyrhills, Florida.

MacKenzie chose to receive her winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment in the amount of $370,896,780.84.

She did not speak to a crowd of reporters outside lottery headquarters, leaving quickly in a silver Ford Focus with her son, Scott Mackenzie, and family friends. She was accompanied by two attorneys, who left in a separate car.

"We are all about making dreams come true here at the Florida Lottery, and this has been a time of great excitement for Ms. MacKenzie, the Zephyrhills community and the state of Florida," said Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O'Connell. "We're thrilled that a Florida resident has won this jackpot, and we wish her every happiness with her new fortune."

The jackpot-winning Powerball Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 7838 Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills. The Florida Lottery retailer received a bonus incentive of $85,000 on Monday, May 20.

This series of jackpot rollovers generated more than $125 million in sales for the Florida Lottery, resulting in more than $50 million for Florida's Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).

Ms. MacKenzie provided the following statement to the Florida Lottery:

"Prior to the Lottery drawing, she and her son Scott had an agreement to split any proceeds with each other.

We bought the winning ticket as a single ticket even though we bought four other tickets before the drawing. While in line at Publix, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket.

We are grateful for this blessing of winning the Florida Lottery Powerball jackpot and appreciate the interest of the public, state of Florida and the Lottery. We hope that everyone will give us an opportunity to maintain our privacy for our family's benefit. If you have any inquiries or questions, you may contact our representatives at the law firm of Brant, Abraham, Reiter, McCormick and Johnson or the financial planning firm of Madden Advisory Services, both of Jacksonville, Florida."

The Florida Lottery had scheduled this afternoon's news conference in Tallahassee, promising "big news" about the Powerball winner, after the winner stolled into Lottery headquarters around noon Wednesday.

MacKenzie opted to bypass the entire $590.5 million in 30 annual payments, and instead claimed the one-time lump sum option of $370 million, said Megan Dougherty, a spokesman for the Florida Lottery.

"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.

Despite her request for privacy, MacKenzie's name was revealed at the news conference because under state law, the winner cannot remain anonymous.

Lottery spokesman David Bishop said Mackenzie, her lawyers and financial adviser were very prepared when they arrived, spending about two hours going through the necessary paperwork.

"They had clearly been preparing for this. They took all this time to get everything in order," Bishop said.

Minutes after the announcement, a dozen reporters in Zephyrhills were camped outside Mackenzie's modest grey duplex, which backs up to a dirt alley and is across from a cow pasture.

Neighbors were surprised and said Mackenzie never mentioned her big win.

"She didn't say anything about it. She's so quiet and secluded. She's usually in the house," said neighbor James Hill. "I'm very happy for her. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. She was always pleasant and smiling."

Another neighbor, Don Cecil, joked "I hope she gets a better place to live."

Mackenzie's neighbors offered few details about her life, including how long she'd lived there and whether she was married. They said she mostly kept to herself, but they saw her take short walks along the street and exchanged pleasantries with her.

Mackenzie's house, which was situated among mostly mobile home and pre-fabricated houses, had a chain link fence with grey shutters, a tin sheet roof and an old TV antenna.

VIDEO: Watch the press conference

Editor's Note: I apologize for the low volume level of the video.  The video feed provided by the Florida Lottery had a barely-audible volume level.  I tried boosting the volume as much as possible, but it is still low and you will need to raise the volume on your speakers.

MORE! Jay Leno talks about the winner's tax burden

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

LottoPerro

"While in line at Publix, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket."

Man, I'm sure that person is mad.

surimaribo24's avatarsurimaribo24

no sound on the video is it my computer or other members has the same issue?

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

She lives in Zypherhills and had to get attorneys and finance people  from Jax.

really ? no one closer ?

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by surimaribo24 on Jun 5, 2013

no sound on the video is it my computer or other members has the same issue?

The editor apologized for the sound volume,

but it's YouTube, use the speaker symbol at the bottom of the video to try and max it.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by LottoPerro on Jun 5, 2013

"While in line at Publix, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket."

Man, I'm sure that person is mad.

Doesn't matter, the RNG is changing the QP numbers in milliseconds.

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jun 5, 2013

She lives in Zypherhills and had to get attorneys and finance people  from Jax.

really ? no one closer ?

Either she wanted to avoid all the sharks lurking in her area or her son Scott lives in Jax. Glad she took her time as both her and her son are very fortunate.

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

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

beggers don't care about your privacy

this family will better know how to Hide 

sense beggers are coming

"see Shows like TLC lottery changed my life" for proof of endless beggers calling/asking in person/letters etc

this family if it reallyed wanted privacy they should of got better lawyers

and should of abused ever loophole possible in public record laws

privacy for this family is just wishful thinkin with no action

may they enjoy the cash, i just find it silly they  wanted privacy yet they went public" they had a choice folks, they just picked lazy option of going public, sense god forbid someone who wants privacy takes Real action to bypass lottery mandate of public winners

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by Jill34786 on Jun 5, 2013

Either she wanted to avoid all the sharks lurking in her area or her son Scott lives in Jax. Glad she took her time as both her and her son are very fortunate.

OK, either scenario makes sense.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jun 5, 2013

Doesn't matter, the RNG is changing the QP numbers in milliseconds.

Exactly.  In fact, if the person did not let her pass them in line, there may have been no jackpot winner at all, because the combination on her ticket probably would not have been generated.  Most random number generators are seeded from the current time in milleseconds.

surimaribo24's avatarsurimaribo24

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jun 5, 2013

The editor apologized for the sound volume,

but it's YouTube, use the speaker symbol at the bottom of the video to try and max it.

Thumbs Up

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by joshuacloak on Jun 5, 2013

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

beggers don't care about your privacy

this family will better know how to Hide 

sense beggers are coming

"see Shows like TLC lottery changed my life" for proof of endless beggers calling/asking in person/letters etc

this family if it reallyed wanted privacy they should of got better lawyers

and should of abused ever loophole possible in public record laws

privacy for this family is just wishful thinkin with no action

may they enjoy the cash, i just find it silly they  wanted privacy yet they went public" they had a choice folks, they just picked lazy option of going public, sense god forbid someone who wants privacy takes Real action to bypass lottery mandate of public winners

She declined the press conference, and yet her pic. is still online already,

now people that only know her by sight also know her name.

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jun 5, 2013

Exactly.  In fact, if the person did not let her pass them in line, there may have been no jackpot winner at all, because the combination on her ticket probably would not have been generated.  Most random number generators are seeded from the current time in milleseconds.

spot on

sooner or later todd we will have billion jackpot

one of these monsters is gonna get pass 500/600m draw and go for the billion

how many years it take is anyone guest thro

but i think with MM higher odds coming late this year

we at lest have other 500/600 jackpot in 2014 at lest , if not a other this year.....

we had 2 in 2012, and 1 so far in 2013

cross selling change/ price changes to pb/and soon to be MM higher odds change

  have all created perfact growth for these monsters to be new normal jackpots

i remb looking at  that first 600m level MM jackpot and going wow , this is once in lifetime level.....

now with 3 going past us, , am like, this is the  new normal "high" jackpots Green laugh

i really do "hope" the winners mom/son spiting the jackpot enjoy the cash

i just fear they have no idea how bad beggers are...............

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jun 5, 2013

Exactly.  In fact, if the person did not let her pass them in line, there may have been no jackpot winner at all, because the combination on her ticket probably would not have been generated.  Most random number generators are seeded from the current time in milleseconds.

Yea, LOL, sometimes when I buy QP's I tell the cashier "don't press the button till I count to 3"

 

Not sure what you mean by "seeded"

Can you elaborate ?

duckman's avatarduckman

Quote: Originally posted by Jill34786 on Jun 5, 2013

Either she wanted to avoid all the sharks lurking in her area or her son Scott lives in Jax. Glad she took her time as both her and her son are very fortunate.

More likely they have ties in Jax since both legal and financial companies are here.

They picked a good financial planning company. Madden Advisory Services here in Jax hosts a Saturday morning radio show called "Smart Money". I always try to catch that program and they actually offer great financial planning and investment advice...

Subscribe to this news story