S.D. rancher claims $232M Powerball lottery jackpot

Comment #59

barbos — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:50:41 GMT

Now he will marry a Miss Dakota

Comment #58

dk1421 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:35:50 GMT

Basically, the usual follow-up is only when the winners go bad. I guess it's boring if it's good news.

Comment #57

corius$1918! — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:40:09 GMT

Congratulations to this young cowboy and his family. I pray he gets wise financial couseling and tax experts. he will need God in all his pursuits because that publicy promotion for the lottery, his racnch location will draw all kinds of predators out of the woodworks with one goal in mind, to get some of his money.

I don't think this is another Whitaker.,however, if that could happen to Whitaker,who was a successful businessman and knew about managing business. it goes to show you it takes m... [ More ]

Comment #56

jkbjune35 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:29:54 GMT

concrats to you im so happy for you me and husband play the powerball every wednesday and saturday we dont miss a day to buy a ticket for every drawing we are hoping are dream comes true on of these days we cant wait intell the day we get lottery in arkansas we send are hard earned money in oklahoma instead of are own state arkansas im so thrilled the law got past and had enough votes for the lottery thanks alot gamming commision for comming soon to arkansas this state needs the money really bad... [ More ]

Comment #55

JackpotWanna — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:23:19 GMT

I wish I won $232 million. I guess only cowboys win big money.

Comment #54

bashley572 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:18:42 GMT

Ok, but then do you have to be wearing it WHEN you play your numbers or just own the hat to win

Comment #53

stanyslaww — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:09:34 GMT

I seen this black cowboy hat at this thrift store couldn't resist it thinking about the lucky possibilties so I have my lucky charm now time to watch the magic unfold

Comment #52

CowboysFan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:41:58 GMT

Yet another young person wins the jackpot. This story made me feel good because he and his family really needed help. CONGRATS

Comment #51

DC81 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:37:25 GMT

Yeah, of course I'll be called jealous for saying it, but I have a feeling we're going to have another not so good story in a few years. Maybe not on Jack Whitaker proportions but still a lottery loser story. Then again, I think the same way about the 19 year old who one a PB jackpot last year also, so far I still maintain that from what he's been doing since.

Comment #50

megamillionaire — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:13:47 GMT

I love to see stories about winners who really need help winning a big one. I remember some years back when some woman on Long Island NY won a jackpot and complained that now she had to pay more taxes because it put her in a much higher tax bracket. Spend it wisely Neal

Comment #49

RJOh — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:33:15 GMT

I was watching the CBS morning show which couldn't get an interview with Neal Wanless so they interviewed the mayor of his town to hear his plans for the money if Neal followed through with plans to help his community.

This is a young man who's family recently had their trailer repossessed and owed $4K in back taxes and people in the community are already thinking of ways to spend some of his money. You would think they would figure he would want to take care of his family and personal proble... [ More ]

Comment #48

charmed7 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:56:22 GMT

I saw the clip on this family, WTG, they truly deserve the winnings

I hope him and family and friends NJOY

Comment #47

rundown99 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:13:49 GMT

Congratulations to the young winner. Personally, I think that he should have avoided the news conference. He should definitely hire a good tax lawyer and financial team and consider leaving town for awhile.

Comment #46

GamerMom — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:47:32 GMT

If they still feel like being in the ranching business a great idea would to be to start up a non profit corp. He could hire the unemployed to work on his ranch and donate the food produced to the homeless. If he invests his $88 million, taxes will be a huge problem. Donating his product would help greatly. Even hosting a summer camp for disadvantaged youth would be a great idea.

Comment #45

JackpotWanna — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:18:52 GMT

At age 23 he should have chosen the annuity. imo

$232 million would make even the most god fearing person heart to stray.

I hope he gets lots of advisors to help him.

Comment #44

JAP69 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:03:59 GMT

he recently told his horse, Eleanor, It'd be nice if we go for a longer ride than usual on a bigger ranch of our own.

Yep, Dale use to get second billing after Trigger.

Comment #43

dpoly1 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:59:18 GMT

Obama's entitled class will want their cut

Comment #42

dpoly1 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:55:24 GMT

Congrats to a deserving young man !!!!!

I have been ill for more than 23 years -

and I lost my last full time job in 2001 -

and now I am disabled living in a house that makes me even more ill -

I could use a win also

Comment #41

DelmarvaChick — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:13:08 GMT

The taxman did not receive 144 milion in taxes from this Powerball win....232million is the estimated advertised annuity jackpot...and even then sometimes they're wrong with that because the jackpot was advertised as 220 million. Thats what they thought the jackpot was going to be worth if someone won, but they underestimated (which is fine...I'd prefer an under-promise and over-delivery over the opposite) and the final numbers came in at 232 million.

So anytime you see Estimated avdertised a... [ More ]

Comment #40

DelmarvaChick — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:01:19 GMT

I read in another story about the winner on a different site that the numbers he picked represented birthdays of family members....so maybe he just wheeled those numbers? I didnt do the math to figure out all the possible combinations but it'spossible. Also if he had QP on other lines I've heard and witnessed my own disatisfaction with how the QPs seem to be very similar when they are all printed on one ticket. I've literally had quick picks where the numbers were so thightly grouped together I... [ More ]

Comment #39

JONNIE — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:53:52 GMT

I love these kind of stories. He wont be single for long

Comment #38

bambini — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:41:00 GMT

I am happy for him, and I am happy for the tax man to receive 144 million dollars in taxes.

Comment #37

LckyLary — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:01:07 GMT

Wanless from Winner no longer Winless..

The reason for the comparison (Wanless VS. Whittaker) is only to be cautionary: JW started out thanking The Lord, offering to help people and the community.. and at that point sounded like Mr. Wanless. It's like meeting someone the first time. Money can affect people either positive or negative. What we're hoping for is this person's future turns out positive because of it. When the Wests won in Oregon they sounded like a wild bunch that would be the ne... [ More ]

Comment #36

fja — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:34:26 GMT

Happy for the family,,,(Wanless, won more in Winner, South Dakota), but could they have painted a bigger bullseye target on them,,,Name, pictures, location, arial photo....(they were just missing an address number.)

I wish them alot of luck. Beware of the rustlers that are coming

Comment #35

jeb31 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:31:34 GMT

WOW good for him.

Comment #34

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:22:27 GMT

Jealous????

Just don't talk with a full mouth of food.

Comment #33

L J1 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:07:24 GMT

It's nice to see a young person having a new start. Hopfully, he can retain the amount given to him without going broke.

It's BAD enough the current tax system severely reduces his the total winnings.

But hey.... It's 88mils he didn't have before

Congrats to you Mr. Neal.

Comment #32

JackpotWanna — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:50:28 GMT

Congras to the young man! May all you dreams come true.

Comment #31

spy153 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:26:37 GMT

Me too !

That is one cute fella

Comment #30

Halle99 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:58:41 GMT

Congrats....I am really happy that a GOD fearing man was blessed. I know I will be too when my turn comes and thats why I keep playing.

Comment #29

marlon39 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:52:47 GMT

Congrats

Comment #28

numberchaser — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:59:37 GMT

What a great guy, I'am happy for him.

Comment #27

maringoman — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:43:09 GMT

The brother is not gonna be single for long. He sounds like a God fearing man and thats a good thing because you need everything on your side to not blow away this money or to tear up the family like a paid bill with personal info.

Comment #26

diamondpalace — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:22:24 GMT

God works in mysterious ways. Congrats to Neal

Comment #25

HiFi — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:07:54 GMT

he was struggling to make a living but he had $15 dollars to buy lottery tickets? lol

Comment #24

RJOh — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:55:51 GMT

Obviously he believes differently.

I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune. I will not squander it, he promised, wearing a big black cowboy hat and a huge grin.

Comment #23

Mario38 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:46:40 GMT

He does not need a God's blessing. He has millions of dollars.

Comment #22

dopey7719 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:27:09 GMT

FINALLY!!!! Somone who really needs it! Good Luck and may God continue to bless him.

Comment #21

bahamablues — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:25:07 GMT

I am sooo happy for the family to recieve the much needed money....My day is coming soon! I can feel it

Comment #20

Tnplayer805 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:08:33 GMT

Same here Todd.

Comment #19

Todd — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:27:28 GMT

I think this guy will give black hats a good name.

Comment #18

RJOh — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:10:25 GMT

The only similarity between these cowboys is the hat.

Comment #17

beaudad — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:08:14 GMT

I am going to third that commotion!!! WTG.............Beaudad.........................

Comment #16

Tnplayer805 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:31:46 GMT

Yeah... Not good deja vu.... Here's the last guy who claimed a huge jackpot wearing a black cowboy hat...

Comment #15

Piaceri — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:08:54 GMT

I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune. I will not squander it

I believe him. Many people like this who have worked hard and have seen hardships remain simple out of fear that the hardships will come again. Congrats to him and his family. I wish them all the best.

Comment #14

BazookaJoe — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:52:48 GMT

What a great story. God blesses people like this who seek him. Sounds like they indeed needed a blessing. Congrats to him and his family.

Comment #13

pumpi76 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:39:46 GMT

but if it going to ranchers it should go to ranchers who plant ground foods and vegetables fruits not that crap about farmers that grow cows and all that stuff....That way those farmers who plant ground food can use that money to expand on their bussiness and create marvelous things, huge bussiness, create BIG MARKETS OF GROUND FOOD....create huge supermarkets like Walmart Publix but that sell ground food only and vegetables and fruits, like plantings, mango, lettuce everything....And to expand

Comment #12

Icezkube — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:16:34 GMT

I read up this story on yahoo news. He really is one young lucky son of a B *^$! lol Any how yea he deserved it. Ouch, those taxes took a huge chunk of his stash tho. I guess with all the bad comes out all the good.

Comment #11

pumpi76 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:11:34 GMT

to young to me to be a rancher...

i wish the community of religious people in north south Dakota and similar places, i think they are amish or something, wish they had won the big jackpot...The problem with Powerball is that it goes to the well off states of America, it doesn't go to the poorest states and is only 1 game....Americans are everyone not just the ones in the better states...

Comment #10

SmoothJuice — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:50:19 GMT

This guy really deserved it. Congratulations to him.

Comment #9

grandpajohn — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:35:51 GMT

Sure is nice to see someone who works they're butts off and win something like this.Also nice to see him going to help others who have helped him and his family out.Congrats to him and his family. God Bless

Comment #8

wizeguy — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:31:10 GMT

Glad to see someone who really deserves it win, and one who seems like he will do a lot of good with the money! Congrats Mr Wanless

Comment #7

ThatScaryChick — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:06:22 GMT

Congrats to Mr. Wanless on his big win! It sure looks like this money with definitely help him and his family out.

Comment #6

rcbbuckeye — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:01:05 GMT

It is really nice to read of someone that really needs the money that wins. It is touching that he said he intends to repay the community for the help that the family received, especially since that area is so poor.

Very neat story.

Comment #5

konane — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:41:00 GMT

Huge congratulatons to him and all the people he will help as a result of it

Comment #4

Empress-N — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:48:12 GMT

A Big CONGRATULATIONS to him, I feel good when someone thats in real need wins. This family have been really blessed and I wish them the best.

Comment #3

LckyLary — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:42:29 GMT

It's like deja vu all over again, with that black hat!

Next I'm getting ME a black cowboy hat!!!

What's his neighbor's name again

Comment #2

MaddMike51 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:42:12 GMT

I'll second that emotion

Comment #1

Todd — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:20:09 GMT

I was so happy to read about this deserving winner. A big, huge CONGRATS to you

S.D. rancher claims $232M Powerball lottery jackpot

Lottery Post — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:16:27 GMT

If this were a movie, nobody would believe it: A rancher struggling to eke out a living in one of the poorest corners of America claimed one of the biggest undivided jackpots in U.S. lottery history Friday $232 million after buying the ticket in a town by the name of Winner.

Neal Wanless, 23, said he intends to buy himself more room to roam and repay the kindness other townspeople have shown his family.

I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this grea... [ More ]