Ticket was purchased in Arkansas and is the state's largest-ever jackpot winner
Includes video report
By Todd Northrop
A couple from Abernathy, Texas, Monday claimed a $177 million jackpot in Arkansas from the March 31 Mega Millions drawing.
Eliberto and Anita Cantu claimed the prize Monday during a press conference in Arkansas.
They chose to take the prize as a lump sum so the amount was $72,901,274. The State of Arkansas said it took $7,504,543 in taxes.
Their son, Rodrigo Cantu, spoke on their behalf. He said the couple's home town is Abernathy, Texas, while a lottery official described them as being from Lubbock.
Either way, the younger Cantu said his mom and dad plan to use the money to build two new churches — one in Abernathy and one in Post.
Suzie Turner, Eliberto's neice, said her uncle is always giving to other people whenever he can.
"They deserve it because, if anyone ever needed anything, they would try to give it to them, or find a way to give it to them," Turner said of her aunt and uncle. "They're just that kind of family."
Turner said Cantu, 71, of Abernathy wanted to wait before he told people about his new fortune.
But by Monday afternoon, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery had broadcast a livestream on its Facebook page announcing Cantu as the winner of its $177 million jackpot — the biggest lottery win in the history of the state.
"They hadn't told nobody," Turner said. "They told my other aunt and of course she couldn't hold her tongue (and) told my dad, my dad told my mom so by the time we saw it on Facebook, we already knew. I was like, 'wow'... They're overwhelmed, I'm sure."
Rodrigo said his dad was in Arkansas as part of a five-week construction job.
"They travel around in a little travel trailer, so they just kind of go around from job to job," Rodrigo Cantu said. "He's been playing since Texas started its lottery. ... I'm sure they'll keep playing. You can't break a 30-year-old habit."
"He did buy 180 tickets one time and got no money out of it," Rodrigo said.
"That morning he stopped at a Valero," Rodrigo continued. "His co-workers didn't want to stop, but he convinced them to stop so he could get a lottery ticket and coffee."
After winning, Rodrigo Cantu said, his dad sold his travel trailer to a co-worker for $1 and began getting legal and financial advice.
"It's very daunting," he said. "It's a lot of money. You have to make sure everything is right, down to security for my parents once this gets out."
With six children and about 17 grandchildren, the son said his parents are looking forward to taking care of their families. And their first priority is rebuilding Bethel Baptist Church in Abernathy.
"It's definitely a blessing," Rodrigo Cantu said. "It's kind of sunk in for some. My mom still doesn't believe it. Even though she's held the check, she's got to actually see it in the account. On the flipside of that, they've never had a credit card, they've never written a check — it's all been through money orders. My dad just recently got a debit card a couple of years ago, so I don't know if it'll ever sink in."
Technically the Cantu's were winners twice over in that drawing.
"They also won three dollars as well," Rodrigo said.
Rodrigo said his mom and dad are ages 71 and 68, and he eventually convinced his dad to retire. But, it might take a while for him to break the habit of waking up early every morning.
"He got up the other morning at 5:30 and realized he didn't have to go," Rodrigo Cantu said.
The gas station where the ticket was sold will receive a $50,000 bonus commission on the sale and the state of Arkansas will receive about $7 million in taxes.
Turner said she's happy for her uncle and aunt and hopes they'll be able to enjoy life a little more.
"They've done their share of traveling. It's not like they never did anything, but they did stuff on a regular budget and now they actually have money to splurge," Turner said. "They lived life, but now they can actually live life."
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Beautiful.
**Shades of Stevie Ray Vaughn with that hat.
Congratulations to the Cantu family!
Congratulations to the Cantu family and all who will be blessed because of their win.
early seventies never probably felt this good. Well,except when you're having
>Good health
>Real love and loyalty with your partner,with of course a little $nest egg for senior decades 70s.80s and up so congrats
The couple look nice and happy.Each day as a senior their life will be little bit less stressed. Great win right here.
I don't know how he lived so long without a credit card or checking account. Sounds strange to me.
Congratulations to them. Son sounds like he will make sure they handle the winnings wisely.
Best example of winning the lottery without a boatload of mathematical wizardry.
All you have do is be at the right place at the right time.
A few minutes either way and someone else would have won, maybe.
True, bobby623! And he didn't even purchase this winning jackpot Mega Millions ticket in the state where he lives!
l have yet to meet a genuine panhandler in this neck of the woods Fellini who has a credit card or checking account either . Next time you out and about, ask a panhandler how he/ she has come to live this long? Be prepared to pull a chair and listen up...
Word!
I'm convinced that if you ever find yourself out of state -- buy a lottery ticket.
not odd. imo.
My mother has zero credit card,but a great credit score/homeowner/with dad for over fifty yrs, that is why. Daddy has all credit cards,and they are retired now for 14 yrs, happy. But yea, not too weird to me.Mom does have 1 savings account. Ss, i can believe it.
lol thx for quoting my post tonight.
Yea i just feel that way anyhow."
My parents remind me of the way he seem to be. Heck,mommie has no credit card! LOL
I used to think it was strange, TBH.(to be honest)but then, i see how "well"they been living since retirement
and bringing us five up and i say,"Oh i get it."Dad had many credit cards, cancel all in "good standing"and less debt,
never really incur much debt as he say, having limited accounts/and a few wise investments since mid 50s, 29 yrs ago.
They did well,and are still ok in life,happy,healthy in love,each other best friend
and just overall happy.
it's verrygood
Where was the winning Mega Millions jackpot winning city sold the ticket on Friday March 31st?
Stuttgart, AR
Trying to find out if this was a QP and one line. Numbers look like a QP. Media reported it as a single ticket which could mean only one jackpot winner and/or 1 slip with 5+ lines. Often they report that someone bought one lottery ticket but when they publish a photo of the winning slip, there are 5-10 lines on it.
The video says it was a quick pick, more than one line--not sure how many.
Thank you! Considering this guy bought 180 tickets once for one game, I suspect he bought more than two.
I asked because I like to re-enforce the idea that you dont have to spend a mint and can buy one quick pick and still win.
l got to thinking about this story this morning & it showed me the independent spirit our 71 year old winner has. His crisscrossing the State & heading across State lines at his age to WORK. The grandchildren can thank their stars that their Patriarch bagged the big one to make life easier not only for him & his wife but the generation following.There are 71 year Olds out there who are glued to their TV'S & porch rockers but not this winner.l guess the moral of his story is " age is just a #, never quit"..What a guy!
I was thinking that instead of still working construction at 71 maybe he should have tried his hand as a Bob Dylan impersonator. We never got to find out what SRV would look like at 70, but that would probably be another option.
A single man, going to fix up a church and then help out every family member he has (over 20 people!)
That's a deserving win in my book. It's almost too bad he didn't win more.
Last time l checked Floyd, B D does not use a cane.That's another thing, how is this Gentleman working in construction with a cane? Must be doing impressive workmanship at his age.
His not going to fix up a church - his money is.
what's the point of saying that?
it's his decision to do what he wants with it and he decided he wants to fix up the church, therefore HE is using HIS MONEY to fix it up and without the decision he has made, the church would stay the same
Don't react this way please.My understanding is that you may be under the assumption that since his in construction that his going to be hammering away on that project & my thinking is why should he?.. ergo his money is going to be used. You were also in error calling him a " single man" - others may think you dismissing his wife. See, no harm done.l am not a violent man.
I hope he retires and relaxes for a bit he has been working his whole life it is hard for some to retire and relax. My mom's boyfriend just retired this last year and he is missing working because he worked his whole life. He sometimes needs to just relax.-weshar75
They did it!
Construction work is hard on a young kid, couldn't imagine doing that at 71. Good for him, a well deserved rest.
Congrats!!!
OUTSTANDING !! Impossible to be more HAPPY for these hard working people..!!!
Considering his age (which most likely = experience in construction) AND if that cane is necessary and not just for show, I would wager he's a foreman in one of the trades. Maybe he works in the office in charge of materials inventory or procurement or he might be in Safety. I suspect his job requires what's above his neck more than what's below.
He does look like Dylan, though or a little bit like Waylon Jennings near the end of his life.