Includes video report
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lottery officials Tuesday evening revealed that a Cumberland County man was the winner of the $344.6 million Powerball ticket that was purchased in Hope Mills.
The winner, Charles W. Jackson Jr., was revealed at a news conference at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at the North Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Raleigh.
Jackson, 66, has elected to take a lump sum payment of $223 million, which amounts to an after-tax payment of $158 million according to lottery officials.
"I never expected to win, so I just got lucky," Jackson said during a news conference.
The massive jackpot is the 19th-largest jackpot in the Powerball game's history, and overall the 33rd-largest jackpot of any lottery game in US history. The cash value is the 32nd-largest lottery lump-sum cash value of all time in the US.
During the news conference, he said plans to give some money to St. Jude's, Shriner's Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project.
"I didn't know it until this morning. I didn't see the last digit — I thought I had just won $50,000," Jackson said.
He called his wife to tell her that they needed to go to Raleigh to collect the money and only realized later he won the full amount.
"After I hung up with her I jumped back in there and looked — and I said "dang I got em all'," he said.
Jackson said he had to use Google to find out how much the ticket was worth after his wife asked him, and he didn't know.
Jackson said he picked his winner numbers partially from a fortune cookie at a Vietnamese restaurant.
Jackson is already retired — he previously had a military store on Riley Road near Fort Bragg.
"You play to win — but you don't ever expect to win," he said. "It still hasn't come over me yet how much — all that money."
Jackson said he planned to give $1 million to his brother.
The winning ticket was sold at Carlie C's in Hope Mills.
Lottery officials said it's the largest jackpot ever won in North Carolina involving a single ticket. It's the fifth time a North Carolina ticket claimed a Powerball jackpot.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
"Partially" from a fortune cookie. That explains why there was only one winner.
Fortune Cookie Say:
You can still love what you can not have in life.
Learn Chinese: German = Na-zee
Lucky numbers (Lotto): 02-18-01-29-08-06
Daily numbers (Pick3): 765
Congratulations to Charles W. Jackson Jr.
He has made some rookie mistakes. There is no need to promise anything to anybody. He should have placed his ticket into a safe box.
I understand the pull of turning the ticket in. It is a powerful emotion.
He has not hired financial advisers.
Enjoy your retirement with your family Charles!
Good for him, twice, once for the win and once for saying what should be the mantra for all lottery players;
"You play to win — but you don't ever expect to win," he said. "It still hasn't come over me yet how much — all that money."
That gentleman was pretty funny....Have a wonderful time Charles
Anyone know who the Asian guy is that came in with him?
It was his sidekick... Kato
I thought it might be either his own personal protection Ninja, or owns the restaurant where he got the fortune cookie.
All Right!
And now we need a 65 year old retiree from my house to win MM tomorrow!
Another article says his wife is from Vietnam, so the Asian gentleman is probably a son or inlaw.
He said he'll donate to St. Judes, Shriner's, and Wounded Warrior. Good.
The scary thing is he won on Saturday and picks up cash (giant check) on Tues. I hope he had enough time to get the proper legal/tax/financial advisers lined up!
For me, if I win the MegaMillions jackpot, I will invest in a chicken ranch with mutant large chickens. Then I'll sell the eggs as "Megga Eggas".
He Played!
He Won!
He Claimed His Prize His Way!
Ah....that would likely explain the Asian guy with him!
Yea, I think he acted kinda quick as well. Hope he can dot his I's and cross his T's before anything goes sideways for him.
Forget that Asian guy standing around. The young woman in the Powerball costume is the unsung hero of this video. She did "jazz hands" for nearly 10 minutes without a break, in a big costume that's hot, heavy, and uncomfortable as hell.
Oh for Pete's sake..What's an old fuddy duddy that age, gonna do with $343 Million dollars besides buy Bengay, Viagra and Metamucil ?