Includes video report
MADISON, Wisc. — The winner of a Powerball lottery ticket worth $768.4 million has been revealed. He is 24-year-old Manuel Franco of West Allis.
Franco spoke at length with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, April 23 — describing in detail the day he had purchased the tickets that led to this big win. Franco said he left work around 2 p.m. on March 27 and went to the Speedway in New Berlin a few minutes later. He bought $10 worth of individual Powerball tickets.
"I pretty much felt lucky," Franco said.
Franco felt so lucky, he looked into the camera at the counter — and pondered winking at it. In the end, he did not.
Franco said he did not watch the Powerball drawing that evening — and actually left for work the next morning without checking the tickets. During the day, he heard all the buzz about someone from Wisconsin hitting the jackpot — and grew curious.
When Franco got home, he first checked the tickets that he and his girlfriend had purchased together — there were no winners. Then he grabbed the ten tickets he purchased after work the day before. The third ticket he checked was a winner of $4 — for hitting the Powerball number. Franco said he got excited about that. It was the last ticket in his hand that ended up being the big winner.
"I don't want to embarrass myself on live TV but, what I can explain. It was amazing. My heart started racing, blood pumping. My blood felt warm. Screamed for about five or ten minutes. Good thing my neighbors didn't hear," Franco said.
Franco told reporters he does not plan to play Powerball again. But he does now know at this point whether he will be staying in the area.
The winning ticket was sold at 2:14 p.m. at a Speedway gas station in the Milwaukee suburb of New Berlin, a city of about 40,000 people roughly 14 miles (23 kilometers) southwest of Milwaukee, on March 27.
The $768 million prize refers to an annuity option paid over 29 years. However, Franco decided to claim the cash option of approximately $477 million and will receive just over $326 million after state and federal taxes. He initially wanted to claim the full annuity, but said that he was convinced by people close to him to take the cash option instead.
The gas station will receive $100,000 for selling the winning ticket.
The jackpot is the third-largest behind the world record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot shared by winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee in January 2016 and a $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot won in South Carolina last October.
Wisconsin Department of Revenue officials estimate that if the winner or winners take the cash prize the state would claim $38 million of the winnings as tax revenue. Annual tax revenue from annuities would build from $11.6 million this year to $47 million by 2048.
The win comes almost exactly two years after Wisconsin hit its last Powerball jackpot, when a Milwaukee resident won $156.2 million on March 22, 2017.
The odds of matching all six balls in the Powerball drawing were 1 in 292.2 million. The winning numbers were 16, 20, 37, 44, and 62, with Powerball number 12.
Seven tickets matched all five white balls but missed matching the red Powerball to win a $1 million prize. Those tickets were sold in Arizona, two in California, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. Two other tickets sold in Kansas and Minnesota matched all five white balls and doubled the prize to $2 million since the tickets included the Power Play option for an additional $1.
Powerball is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
Congratulations to Franco! Good to see a young guy win.
Congrats Franco !! Pretty good job on the Press Conference as well, for a 24 year old. Good to hear that you listened to the people that are close to you about the cash option. Have a wonderful life young man
Thanks Todd for posting.
Wonder what he does (or did?) for work?
Wisconsin moving up in its ratings for selling winning Powerball tickets; Indiana better watch out or they'll lose their #1 berth!
Proposed Wisconsin Lottery Privacy Act.
I agree! Sounds like a nice enough guy with a good head on his shoulders--I wish him the best!
Way to go! Congratulations!
For just a brief moment, l thought “Winone4me” actually won that jackpot. Wrong guy.
Congratulations! And what a very polished individual who seems comfortable on camera. I think he would do well in anything.
Franco felt so lucky, he looked into the camera at the counter — and pondered winking at it. In the end, he did not.
I like this guy! And he really had some fun at the press conference.
Cool congrats another young guy wins. He saids that the ticket he bought with his girlfriend and checked together not a winner. But one of his 10 tickets he checked was the winner. This guy should do well ,seems smart with a good head on his shoulders
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Yeah, I don't know man, I don't know . . .
Congratulations to Manuel Franco. He is beginning his new life with money and his Attorney Andrew Stoltman. Will his girlfriend have a future with Manuel?
Manuel Franco said, "As long as he did not tell anyone that he had the winning ticket than they did not know". Manuel kept quiet and helped himself. I think he told trusted family and friends.
Music*, I bet she is waiting for just the right moment to pop the question.
He better remember to create a Prenuptual agreement with her or anyone else.
HoW many tickets did he buy all together?
The winner came out of five he bought I think that is what the story said.-weshar75
Thanks!
Nice to see a really young person win one of these huge jackpots for a change, instead of the usual post-50. No offense to the old farts, I am one myself.
Awesome, enjoy Franco.
I had read that he checked the ones he bought with his girlfriend first and there was no winners. He then checked the 10 tickets he bought after work and the winner was the last ticket.
I'm sure the producers of the 'My Lottery Dream Home' will be trying to get in touch with him.
Congrats on the win.
The story says he checked the 10 tickets he bought, but I think he only bought 5 tickets...$10 worth, not 10 tickets.
reddog. Not only, "My Lottery Dream Home" but maybe a new "How the Lottery Changed My Life".
I wish Mr. Franco much success when he buys cars, homes, clothing. How soon will he make up his mind and set anchor? He did mention that he wants to travel the World.
I am a bit of a JERK, Jealous, Envious, Resentful, and a Killjoy.
Thanks, Saylorgirl & Meaty!
When I win I will not be looking like bum on national tv! This guy is a MULTIMILLIONAIRE! Look like one!
lol. when you win, show us how to dress.
Welllllllllllll, I wouldn't be too harsh on the young man about his manner of dress. It could be what he feels comfortable in and his current lifestyle. Perhaps his Atty suggested that he come to the press conference in the attire that makes him feel the most at ease..Besides, how he spoke and reacted to questions gave us much more insight about this young man, than a shirt and pair of pants.
Didn't pay attention, nor cared with what he wore. I paid attention to this mature gentleman who won a boatload of money and kept his cool the whole time.
Gee: There was once a Billionaire by the name of Steve Jobs who wore jeans & a turtle neck sweater on national tv & at work,l don’t recall anyone ever asking him why he didn’t wear clothes that exemplified him being a billionaire. Come to think of it, Zuckerberg loves T shirts & jeans as well, another billionaire. It’s not the clothes that make a man, it’s what lies within.
I believe him when he says he knows how to say no. He exercised that skill most eloquently in fielding those probing questions from the press.
He has yet to receive a dime of that money.
If they are living together and sharing household expenses, she may already be entitled to half.
Each State is unique in it's laws. Wisconsin laws may protect him or her.
Co-habitation can become expensive after a lottery win.
Artist77, I agree with your written statement. Will this end up in Court?
The cash option was a big mistake. If you listen to him he said he wanted annuity but thoes blood sucking lawyers and financial advisors told him lump sum. If i win like him i will fire all attorneys and fire all financial advisors and i will take annuity i don't need more money or some clowns telling me how to spend my money bulls....
He's now rich enough that he will never again need to dress to impress.
Yeah ok!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Like I said!! He is a MULTIMILLIONIARE!! GO get a hair cut. He doesn't have to look like a bum anymore. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I doesn't matter! It's on the way!!! WOW!! What a feeling that would be!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
I will!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
If I do decide to show my face at my press conference I will be clean and SHARRRP as a tack BABY!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Found an interesting article in the Green Bay Press Gazette from four years ago.
When you said "lies" I thought about another billionaire.
Dress any way you want or better yet don't attend if your state allows anonymity. Reading this jackpot envy nonsense should be the number one reason to promote anonymous jackpot winners.
Some people need a disguise to hide their insecurities, and some don't.
When I win, I will pull up to the press conference suited and booted with a blond on one side and a redhead on the other, a champagne bottle in one hand and a cigar in the other.
I would need a codpiece for that.
😎 THATS DOPE!!
You want him to look like what someone who isn't a multi-millionaire thinks multi-millionaires look like is that right? Do you want Warren Buffett to live in a mansion and drive a flashy car?
Maybe he did get a haircut. You know those days when you go to the barber* if you have hair, and say " just a little off the top." Others may comment later and say " when are you going to have your hair cut? and you respond, l just did!" That's what you looking at kid.
I don't care what Warren Buffet does! I already have a flashy car and will have more flashy cars when I win! 😜😂😂😂😂😂😂
What are you going to do when all jackpot winners get anonymity and you'll have nothing to comment negatively on?
That's right! Then I won't have anything to say will I!
The local news here in Wisconsin reported that he worked at Target.