New York man claims other half of $687.8 million Powerball lottery jackpot

Nov 15, 2018, 1:13 pm (35 comments)

Powerball

Largest lottery jackpot winner in New York state history

Includes video report

A New York man has claimed half of a $687.8 million Powerball lottery jackpot, becoming the largest lottery winner in New York state history.

Robert Bailey has been playing the same six lottery numbers for 25 years and plans to keep on doing it — even though his digits finally hit for a $343.8 million Powerball win, the largest in New York Lottery history.

Bailey, 67, was introduced by lottery officials Wednesday as the record-breaking winner at the Resorts World Casino in Queens.

The total prize in the Oct. 27 drawing was nearly $700 million, but he will split the jackpot with a woman in Iowa who also picked the winning numbers, 8, 12, 13, 19 and 27, with a Powerball of 4.

(See Iowa single mom claims half of $687.8 million Powerball lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, Nov. 6, 2018.)

Bailey bought his winning ticket at a deli in Harlem. He usually buys tickets at a few different stores, but on this particular day, it was raining and he was visiting a friend, so he ducked into the deli and grabbed a Powerball ticket.

After checking the winning numbers that night online, he was shocked.

"I said to myself, 'These look like my numbers.' I tried to remain calm and sat down to watch some shows I had on my DVR. I didn't sleep the rest of the night," Bailey said.

Bailey, a retired federal government employee, said he got the lucky numbers from a family member years earlier. The most he had ever won using them previously was $30,000 from a lucky Take Five lottery ticket.

"I will continue playing my numbers until this train runs out," Bailey said. "I'm going to ride this out; I can't stop now."

Bailey didn't come forward to claim his prize until after he met with a lawyer and financial adviser. He took a lump sum payment worth $198 million, less after taxes.

New York requires lottery winners to identify themselves and participate in a news conference. Bailey, who wore dark sunglasses for the announcement, said he wished he could have kept his win quiet.

"It's a good life changer," said Bailey, who declined to describe the nature of his government work before retiring. "I plan to do the right thing with the money."

He wants to buy some land and a house for his mother and set up some good investments to take care of the next generation of his family. He'd also like to travel, hitting Las Vegas and parts of the Caribbean.

Ultimately, though, he'd like to give back.

"I plan to give back to Manhattan; that's where I'm from," Bailey said. "I still want to be me. I can't let money change me. I'm going to keep doing the right thing."

This is the second consecutive Powerball jackpot won in New York this year. The most recent win came in September when a Staten Island man won the $245.6 million jackpot.

The chance of winning the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292.2 million.

VIDEO: Watch the report

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

25 years playing the same number? I'd say it paid off Big Time!! Congrats!Banana

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

$10 Investment Turned Into $343.8 Million.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Party Congratulations to Robert Bailey! 

 Robert hired a lawyer and a financial adviser. Smart move. He now needs a bodyguard as he says. 

 Robert did not say where he hid his winning ticket. 

 Self-picks win again big time. 

noise-gate

l noticed that Robert mentioned “ do the right thing “...twice. He started good by not immediately coming forward. The next right thing: meeting with an attorney & financial planner. Keep following that yellow brick road Bobby.

* The last thing, which is out of his control: Being close to water! Approve

Bleudog101

Excellent feel good story and enjoyed the video with the ever positive Y   O   L   A    N    D   A.  NY struck gold when the hired her; looking good for almost 63.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Nov 15, 2018

l noticed that Robert mentioned “ do the right thing “...twice. He started good by not immediately coming forward. The next right thing: meeting with an attorney & financial planner. Keep following that yellow brick road Bobby.

* The last thing, which is out of his control: Being close to water! Approve

noise-gate, are you inviting Robert to "White Shores" as in Seychelles?  Maybe he doesn't like flying and hates water. 

Need200K

I thought I am going to win in my 25th birthday in NYC but he took my win Green laugh
Congrats my man enjoy Party

Bleudog101

Plenty of lotteries in Manhattan/New York to choose from and WIN!!

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Nov 15, 2018

$10 Investment Turned Into $343.8 Million.

Come awwn Thrifty, it's really you this article is about.. admit it

Stack47

There were lots of drawings in the 25 years he played "his numbers" making it much more than just a $10 investment.

loonasee2's avatarloonasee2

I was just watching Yolanda award the big Power Ball winner.It was sad the guy after all taxes and crap .The guy banked only $125,396,690.00 from $343,000,000.00 with 2 winners starting at $688,000,00..

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by loonasee2 on Nov 15, 2018

I was just watching Yolanda award the big Power Ball winner.It was sad the guy after all taxes and crap .The guy banked only $125,396,690.00 from $343,000,000.00 with 2 winners starting at $688,000,00..

The American Revolution was fought over Taxation without Representation. The King and his military lost. 

 When the American voter learns how powerful their vote is then changes occur. Peacefully. 

 Remember how you vote with your dollar. Each dollar spent says Yes to this and No to that. 

US Flag

Need200K

Quote: Originally posted by loonasee2 on Nov 15, 2018

I was just watching Yolanda award the big Power Ball winner.It was sad the guy after all taxes and crap .The guy banked only $125,396,690.00 from $343,000,000.00 with 2 winners starting at $688,000,00..

Poor guy with "only" $125Million in the bank Green laugh

sweetie7398's avatarsweetie7398

Congrats. 

Subscribe to this news story