Oregon businessman has record Powerball lottery ticket

Oct 21, 2005, 1:20 pm (50 comments)

Powerball

Steve West of Medford, Oregon, is a wealthy, wealthy man.

West, a self-employed businessman, confirmed to ABC News that he and three other family members are the owners of the winning Powerball ticket worth $340 million.

"I still don't really believe that it's true," West told ABC News Radio. "It just really hasn't sunk in well. I'm told by everybody else that this is a life-changing situation, and I didn't plan on wanting to change that much. I mean, the money always sounded great, but I didn't want to change my lifestyle to go along with it."

West discovered he'd won when family members checked the numbers online.

"We didn't watch the Powerball drawing," he said. "We got a call … from the other family members saying, 'I can't believe it, some of these numbers are matching.' And then she (a relative) started saying, 'All these numbers are matching.' And we thought, 'Wow.'"

"She couldn't believe they were matching, and she could hardly talk," West said. "She was just so panicked. And my wife was talking to her. And it was pandemonium — I guess was the way to say it."

First-Time Player

The family had bought $40 worth of tickets, West said.

"We went over and looked at the ticket, verified that it's a correct ticket … and just haven't slept well the last two nights," he said.

Talk about luck: It was the first time West ever played Powerball. He said he won't do anything crazy with the money, though.

"Of course, everybody dreams of winning the lottery, but I've never really made plans of what I would buy, because it never went that in-depth," he said.

"We're talking to our financial planner Tuesday and we're probably going to invest all of it — or 99 percent of it," he added. "That'll still leave us a good small amount that we can take a vacation or buy some kind of a sports car."

For now, West will keep his day job, which he is refusing to disclose.

"I'm self-employed, and I still have been out to work yesterday," he said, "and I'm still going out today."

ABC News

Comments

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Jack Whittaker was a self-employed businessman too.  May be I'll get lucky if I start a business.Wink

konane's avatarkonane

First time player ...... had a winning mindset .....

Party    Congratulations to all!!  Party

four4me

Quote: He said he won't do anything crazy with the money, though. and

We're talking to our financial planner Tuesday and we're probably going to invest all of it — or 99 percent of it,"

Yea that sounds real intelligent the stock market is doing so poorly that he just might end up owing money if it were to crash. It kills me when people make rash decisions.... a quater or possibly half of the winnings but not all. Big money makes some people brain dead I think. I hope he re thinks that idea.

 

CASH Only

Good for him. As long as he chooses cash. I wonder if he played OR Lose for Life.

JAG331

Quote: He said he won't do anything crazy with the money, though. and

We're talking to our financial planner Tuesday and we're probably going to invest all of it — or 99 percent of it,"

Yea that sounds real intelligent the stock market is doing so poorly that he just might end up owing money if it were to crash. It kills me when people make rash decisions.... a quater or possibly half of the winnings but not all. Big money makes some people brain dead I think. I hope he re thinks that idea.

 

Investing doesn't have to mean throwing it all into the stock market.

You can invest in houses, other countries....diversification. 

lmatlaw

How ironic! The big jackpots attract a lot of first time players and, sure enough, one of them hits it. It ain't fair, dammit!!!!



Congratulations Mr. West.

Lottophene

Businessman . . . . . . hmmm . . . . .sounds like this guy may have been doing okay already. I guess I'm always more partial to that maid or the school teacher. But anyway best wishes to them. Heck, think I'll start a business too RJ. Wink

MANMEAT1

Businessman . . . . . . hmmm . . . . .sounds like this guy may have been doing okay already. I guess I'm always more partial to that maid or the school teacher. But anyway best wishes to them. Heck, think I'll start a business too RJ. Wink

exactly!!!

 

like i said.

 

he doesn't need all of that money

 

 

DoubleDown

Always the first time players, or the random ones- I bet he went into the store and asked the clerk "exactly how does one play this " ?

should we back off from playing so much ?

 

 

If it's your time, it's your time.........

DD

 

Just6ntlc

I hope the Oregon businessman doesn't flop and have problems like Jake Whittaker three years ago. They're so lucky that they didn't play until now! I agree that he should choose cash option because problems may occur if he took payments.

KYPower418's avatarKYPower418

Well let's just hope he doesn't become another Jack. This guy had problems LOL

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats to the West family!

Smile

mylollipop's avatarmylollipop

My, My.  A first time playerHyper.  A funny thing happened to me when I was going to play the Powerball Drawing December 2002.  I knew that the winner would be drawn that drawing, but my car broke down and I knew that this drawing would yield a winner(s) but I did not have time to take off from work to drive to Louisiana (the closest Powerball state to Alabama).  No need, I did not win.  I just hope that the West Family will be wise and not think that the money can buy them happiness.  If they  have children, they need to know the value of work!  The extra money is just insurance.  Insurance that I would like to have.  Well, I guess I will just have to travel to Georgia for the Mega Millions...that jackpot is growing.  Two strikes on the Powerball.  And not one of those Lotto Prediction Tools selected the Powerball winning numbers!  Hmmmm....!  It is just random luck-no strategy.

acronym007

It wierd, it always seems like the biggest jackpots are won by people with the most money. I mean we see stories on both sides but if this guy is investing 99%, he is well to do already which to my guess is not 99% of the population in here. Congrat's Mr. West.

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