Pa. couple claims $128 million Powerball jackpot

Jan 7, 2012, 8:24 am (36 comments)

Powerball

Ticket purchased in Maryland; state's 2nd-largest jackpot

By Todd Northrop, sourced from press release

BALTIMORE, Md. — An excited Pennsylvania couple arrived at Maryland Lottery Headquarters Friday, accompanied by legal counsel, to claim their $128.8 million Powerball prize.

The elated twosome, who chose to remain anonymous, had the only winning ticket for the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing. The couple's Quick Pick ticket containing the numbers 14, 16, 30, 51, 52, with Powerball number 19, matched all five white balls and the red Powerball to win the second-largest jackpot ever hit in Maryland.

A Baltimore County woman holds the record for the largest jackpot prize in the state with a $183 million Mega Millions win in 2003.

The lucky Lottery player walked into Wesley's, a restaurant in Elkton, on Christmas Eve to purchase a case of beer, and on his way out happened to see the Mega Millions and Powerball signs. "The Mega Millions jackpot was larger, but the drawing for Powerball was that evening, so I bought two tickets for that drawing," said the nervous winner. His spur-of-the-moment purchase made for a-once-in-a-lifetime holiday season.

"I checked my tickets on Christmas day," said the winner. "When I saw the numbers, I started stomping on the floor and shouted to my wife to come upstairs." Thinking her husband had dropped something, she quickly ran upstairs to find the Powerball ticket in her husband's shaking hands.

"We were in shock," she said. "At first, we thought we'd won $20 million. To discover it was over $125 million was unreal."

The couple has not yet decided whether to take the $128.8 million annuity or the cash option of approximately $81 million. They intend to use some of the prize money to pay off their debts and give to charity.

The ticket was purchased at Wesley's, located at 3700 Telegraph Rd. in Elkton. Wesley's will receive $25,000 commission for selling the winning ticket.

Maryland joined Powerball two years ago and has produced two jackpot winners. The first Powerball jackpot won in Maryland was for $108.8 million and was claimed by an Abingdon couple in September 2011. There have also been 21 second-tier $200,000 Powerball winners since its arrival to the state. Three of these second-tier wins turned into $1 million prizes as a result of the Power Play option.

Beginning Sunday, January 15, 2012, the multi-state jackpot game will double its starting jackpot from $20 million to $40 million. In addition, the second-tier prize will rise from the current $200,000 to $1 million. If a player adds the Power Play option, the second-tier prize automatically doubles to $2 million. The ticket price also changes, moving from $1 to $2 for a single Powerball ticket. The first Powerball drawing under the new game structure will take place on Wednesday, January 18.

For more details about the upcoming changes to the Powerball game, see Powerball multi-state lottery to raise prices, jackpots, Lottery Post, Jan. 3, 2012.

For all Powerball and Mega Millions drawing results, jackpot analysis showing after-tax winnings, and news, players are encouraged to visit USA Mega.  Winning numbers are published minutes after each drawing takes place.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Gonna break the trend of LP folks wishing them congratulations. 

2012 is MY year to be ELATED!

Now just waiting for the $2 Powerball changes to take affect in less than two weeks! In the meantime, my QPs for PB hopefully will make me a Happy Man in 2012!  Yes, I am intentionally ignoring the subjects of this story.

LottoGuyBC's avatarLottoGuyBC

to $128 million dollars  Cheers

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

All jackpots should go to PA!

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Congratulations to the lucky couple.Not only are they lucky,they're smart,too.Remaining anonymous is a very smart thing to do when claiming a life changing jackpot.All states should offer this option.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Jan 7, 2012

Congratulations to the lucky couple.Not only are they lucky,they're smart,too.Remaining anonymous is a very smart thing to do when claiming a life changing jackpot.All states should offer this option.

+1

 

Cheers heres to thar grand future and related dreams

rad242

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Jan 7, 2012

Congratulations to the lucky couple.Not only are they lucky,they're smart,too.Remaining anonymous is a very smart thing to do when claiming a life changing jackpot.All states should offer this option.

Today marks ONE of the THREE last opportunities for the Dollar and a Dream Campaign.

 

LP - Grab your Dr. Pepper and Quick Pick while supplies last

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Jan 7, 2012

Congratulations to the lucky couple.Not only are they lucky,they're smart,too.Remaining anonymous is a very smart thing to do when claiming a life changing jackpot.All states should offer this option.

Roger that.I Agree!

rooster8786

If they're REALLY smart, they will take the cash lump sum, spend a little, and invest the rest.  The present value of money is ALWAYS greater than the future value of money, and given the current political situation in USA, the gov't may go broke causing annuity lottery winners to lose their future payments...

gocart1's avatargocart1

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Jan 7, 2012

Congratulations to the lucky couple.Not only are they lucky,they're smart,too.Remaining anonymous is a very smart thing to do when claiming a life changing jackpot.All states should offer this option.

I Agree!PartyUS Flag

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Not to mention that a 128.8 million dollar jackpot makes for a WONDERFUL Christmas present!We should all be so lucky.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

The only bad part may be Maryland Taxes !!!!!!

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Quote: Originally posted by rooster8786 on Jan 7, 2012

If they're REALLY smart, they will take the cash lump sum, spend a little, and invest the rest.  The present value of money is ALWAYS greater than the future value of money, and given the current political situation in USA, the gov't may go broke causing annuity lottery winners to lose their future payments...

This is not factual.  The annuity is funded when you win, so regardless of how bad Obummer drives up the deficit and Congress can't pass a balanced budget, any lottery winner receiving annuity payments will still get paid.  The question though if the US goes broke is will those annuitants really want to continue to live in the US?  I know I wouldn't. 

Now if Obummer sought to have government take over the actual funds of lotteries like the government controls Social Security, then this point would be a valid one.  But that has not and will not happen...well then again, the way Obummer is having his way with so-called recess appointments, if this came across his desk as another source of funds he could tap I wouldn't put it past him to not do so.  After all, he is King Obama, the messiah, our Lord, our Allah and Muhammad (I get this impression given how certain people get all wound up whenever the great one is criticized for his numerous failings).

Anyway, here's hoping the best for those.  And no, it would not be cool for PA to win all jackpots.  I tell you what, I would like to see folks reaction if IL starts winning the majority of jackpots this year.  That would be one surefire way to ensure Obummer does not get reelected since people will cry "conspiracy" and corruption and boot him out of office.

 

Okay that last statement was a stretch in logic...just wanted to see where my creative license would take me!

C0w Pi3

Man all this jackpot love all around me PA, Maryland, New Jersey.. DELAWARE'S DAY IS COMING! Congratulations! Cheers

Arrowhead's avatarArrowhead

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Jan 7, 2012

The only bad part may be Maryland Taxes !!!!!!

Maryland non-residents (winners are from Pa.) would pay 7.5% state tax, not great but better than Maryland residents (9.25%)

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