COLUMBIA, S.C. — The wait is over to discover who won the massive $260 million Powerball multi-state lottery jackpot last Wednesday night.
This afternoon at a news conference held at the Lottery's Columbia claims center on Assembly Street, the lucky winner was revealed to be a retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks for Powerball tickets.
Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum.
Jackson did reveal he was an assistant supervisor for the state Revenue Department who retired in 2000. He said he is married but would not say how many children he has.
Jackson did say he doesn't think the money will change him. He bought his winning ticket and at a gas station after shopping at a nearby Wal-Mart in Columbia.
The Powerball jackpot is the largest ever won with a ticket bought in South Carolina, which has the nation's fifth-highest state unemployment rate.
"It's a beautiful day for education in South Carolina," Jackson said, "I've always supported education, and I've always supported higher education."
Jackson attended Richland County public schools.
"If I can justify this, only God knows what is ahead," Jackson said. "Someone has anticipated a change, but I'll still be Solomon."
"Somebody's going to be blessed for me getting this blessing," Jackson said, "Education is the key. We've got to do something for education. I support education. If you can support education and win, you get a double blessing."
The winning numbers for the August 19 drawing were 14, 24, 31, 43, and 51, with a Powerball number of 27. The Power Play multiplier was 5.
Powerball is played in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Drawings are held each Wednesday and Saturday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The winning numbers are presented within minutes of the draw time at USA Mega (www.usamega.com).
Solomon Jackson, Jr. , seen here at a news conference on Aug. 25, 2009, in Columbia, S.C., is the winner of the state's $259.9 million jackpot lottery prize.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)A retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks on the lottery last week is the winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot. Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum. Jackson did reveal he was an assistant supervisor for the state Revenue Department who retired in 2000. He said he is married but would not say how many children he has.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Edna Delbridge and Rodney Jackson, family members of Solomon Jackson, embrace as they arrive at the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center, Tuesday, August 25, 2009. Solomon Jackson, A retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks on the lottery last week is the winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Amber Baldwin, right, assistant manager at the Murphy USA store in Columbia, S.C. sells a South Carolina Education Lottery ticket to Laura Myers, 60, of Columbia. This is the store that sold the winning $259.9 million Powerball ticket.
Congrats to the Winner and His Family!
PS: Thanks Todd for the Quick Reporting of this News Story...
Im glad for the fellow, and hope that his life and the many who will benefit from his generousity will enjoy nothing but blessings.
Congrats to Mr. Jackson and his family!
Congrats to a fellow black man.
I wonder why he spent only two dollars. If I win, I would say the same thing ignoring the thousands I have spent.
That $2.00 investment certainly paid off big timeJust goes to show you, you'll never know just how much to spend because it only takes $1.00 for six numbers to become "THE" big winning numbers. THE LUCK OF THE DRAW!!!
I'm sure he is deserving of winning and i wish his family much continued success in handling this sudden winfall!!!
Congratulations to Mr. Jackson.
Congratulations to Mr. Jackson. I hope this brings him nothing but good times. Hopefully he has some sound financial plans.
I like that he only spent $2 and I wonder if that included the powerplay. When I went to lunch today, I picked up my individual ticket for tonight's megamillions drawing. I wondered what was taking so long for my slips to be played when I noticed the machine just happily spitting out ticket after ticket. Turns out the guy in front of me bought $140 worth of tickets. I wanted to ask if he was buying numbers from himself or a pool.
Sometimes people look at me like I'm crazy when they find out my pools typically only play one set of numbers for each drawing. But here is another example that plunking down a lot of money isn't required for a win.
Why is it 30yrs instead of 20yrs??? I thought the payment was over 20yrs, is it because of the amount?
Congratulations Mr. Jackson. Luck was on your side.
I hope that he manages the win, his old family and the new family that he will now inherit, well.
Good luck!!
On the main page you can click on the current jackpots of both Mega and Powerball, They show that if you do annual installments- how much you will approximately get and how many years they pay out for.. Please review there.
I hope that the gentleman enjoys retirement and the leaches that think that they need "to spread the wealth" leave him alone.
I only get $17,000 a year for disability and I don't "have a right to a piece of his pie" - it is his !
God bless him and his family - what he does is his business - unless he says that he is getting a cheap car and a doublewide because he doesn't know what to do with that much money - I will scream !
My financial advisors - - Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk !
I need to have a biopsy - I could use some good MM news in the morning !
God bless Ohio for being a part of my trip to take my son to IU !
Bought my MM tickets there !
Why mention Race ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Because for some people, race is the only thing that counts. Congrats to a fellow human being. God bless him and his good works.
Well hopefully after tonight I'll know what it feels like to win a massive jackpot. Good Luck everyone!