Brooklyn truck driver quits job, comes forward as $298M Powerball winner

Jan 25, 2019, 9:08 pm (71 comments)

Powerball

NEW YORK — A truck driver from Brooklyn has come forward as the winner of the second-largest Powerball jackpot in New York Lottery history.

David Johnson, 56, won the Dec. 26 drawing for the $298.3 million jackpot and has already quit his job to start enjoying an early retirement.

He opted to take a single lump sum payment of $180,227,550 which equals $114,091,248 after taxes. Johnson received his winnings on Friday at Resorts World Casino in Queens.

Johnson worked across the street from Arnold's Service Station on Linden Boulevard where he bought the winning ticket for $5. He said he didn't realize he had won the jackpot until he was alerted by a co-worker.

"A friend of mine, a next driver for the company, called me and said 'Hey Dave! Somebody won the Powerball by the gas station,'" Johnson said. "I turned to myself I said, 'Aw that's not me man, that's not my luck.'"

He still didn't check his ticket until his friend called him a second time urging him to do so. He didn't realize he'd actually won until two days later on his way to work.

"I went to the store and gave the ticket to the clerk to check. He scanned it and said 'Congratulations,' I needed to see it for myself, so I scanned and saw it read BIG WINNER," Johnson said.

He jumped up and down in the store when it finally sank in that he was the big winner. Now he has an attorney who will help him invest the money and take care of his family.

But he's going to have some fun too. Johnson said he will finally buy the red Porsche he's always wanted "so everyone can see me when I drive on the street."

His win marks the third consecutive Powerball jackpot win by a New Yorker in 2018.

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WABC

Comments

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

Congrats! Just saw the story on ABC World News Tonight. Enjoy your retirement.

Party

plumsage's avatarplumsage

Mr. Johnson enjoy that Red Porsche.  Congrats!

Need200K

298M to 114M
NY tax including city is a whopping 37 percent

amber124

I used to live in Queens in the 90s, and I know exactly where Linden Boulevard is. Good for him!

Need200K

Why Porsche? Go for Bugatti

quicksloth35

https://autovolostorage.blob.core.windows.net/advertimages-7061034/porsche-911-2016-590.jpg?image=553

 

Congrats to Dave Johnson! He might be accompanied by 2 others in his area who joined the same club as he did recently. That may not be all, either!

Goteki54's avatarGoteki54

He wants to buy a red Porsche so "everybody can see him"?!! Chair. I guess he never heard of the lottery curse, and it's thinking like that that helps to manifest it into reality. He should be buying the car to enjoy it, not so to want to draw attention. 

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

Quote: Originally posted by Need200K on Jan 25, 2019

298M to 114M
NY tax including city is a whopping 37 percent

The 298M was the annuity. He took the cash value, which was 180M. After taxes he received 114M.

Need200K

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Jan 25, 2019

The 298M was the annuity. He took the cash value, which was 180M. After taxes he received 114M.

I know...I wonder why choosing the cash removes so many millions ? Where do those millions go if you choose cash and why ? Why the advertisement says 298M ? Also why the Check also says 298 M? Also I wonder why it doesn't say "Only" after the amount written in words in the check Green laugh

benjibanks's avatarbenjibanks

Another lottery winner who was forced to check his ticket by a friend/family member.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by Need200K on Jan 25, 2019

I know...I wonder why choosing the cash removes so many millions ? Where do those millions go if you choose cash and why ? Why the advertisement says 298M ? Also why the Check also says 298 M? Also I wonder why it doesn't say "Only" after the amount written in words in the check Green laugh

The $298 mil is the annuitized value of the jackpot if he was to take it in annual payments. The lower amount represent the amount of cash that would have been invested on his behalf to generate the annuity payments.

Nothing happened to the deference in the amounts since the interest hasn't been earned yet.

Difference Between Cash Value and Annuity

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Quote: Originally posted by Need200K on Jan 25, 2019

I know...I wonder why choosing the cash removes so many millions ? Where do those millions go if you choose cash and why ? Why the advertisement says 298M ? Also why the Check also says 298 M? Also I wonder why it doesn't say "Only" after the amount written in words in the check Green laugh

Need200k,

Taking the cash doesn't remove anything.

The advertised jackpot amount is if a winner opts for the anniity

from the power ball website;

Dollars & Sense
Value of the Annuity

Jackpot winners can either select their prize as an annuity or a lump-sum payment.

If the annuity option is selected, the winner is guaranteed to receive 30 graduated payments over 29 years.

The annual payments increase by 5% until the 30th and final payment.

The 30 payments added up equal the value of the annuity. 

The current power ball jackpot is $161 million, but that $161 million doesn't exist, that's what a winner taking the annuity would get spread over 29 years. 

That's why the cash amount is always less than the advertised jackpot. 

Teh current PB jackpot is $11 million, cash value $96,800,800

From USA MEGA

Annuity   Cash

Powerball Jackpot for Sat, Jan 26, 2019   

$161,000,000

$96,800,000

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on Jan 25, 2019

The 298M was the annuity. He took the cash value, which was 180M. After taxes he received 114M.

H e received $114 mil after taxes withheld, but will still owe more taxes come April 15, 2020.

Soledad

Quote: Originally posted by Need200K on Jan 25, 2019

Why Porsche? Go for Bugatti

Maybach. Personally Aston Martin is my favorite. But all the racers know Porsche is the best.

If I had the money though I’d get an all original to every detail ‘68 Charger. Bullitt.

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