COLUMBIA, S.C. — The wait is over to discover who won the massive $260 million Powerball multi-state lottery jackpot last Wednesday night.
This afternoon at a news conference held at the Lottery's Columbia claims center on Assembly Street, the lucky winner was revealed to be a retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks for Powerball tickets.
Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum.
Jackson did reveal he was an assistant supervisor for the state Revenue Department who retired in 2000. He said he is married but would not say how many children he has.
Jackson did say he doesn't think the money will change him. He bought his winning ticket and at a gas station after shopping at a nearby Wal-Mart in Columbia.
The Powerball jackpot is the largest ever won with a ticket bought in South Carolina, which has the nation's fifth-highest state unemployment rate.
"It's a beautiful day for education in South Carolina," Jackson said, "I've always supported education, and I've always supported higher education."
Jackson attended Richland County public schools.
"If I can justify this, only God knows what is ahead," Jackson said. "Someone has anticipated a change, but I'll still be Solomon."
"Somebody's going to be blessed for me getting this blessing," Jackson said, "Education is the key. We've got to do something for education. I support education. If you can support education and win, you get a double blessing."
The winning numbers for the August 19 drawing were 14, 24, 31, 43, and 51, with a Powerball number of 27. The Power Play multiplier was 5.
Powerball is played in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Drawings are held each Wednesday and Saturday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The winning numbers are presented within minutes of the draw time at USA Mega (www.usamega.com).
Solomon Jackson, Jr. , seen here at a news conference on Aug. 25, 2009, in Columbia, S.C., is the winner of the state's $259.9 million jackpot lottery prize.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)A retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks on the lottery last week is the winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot. Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum. Jackson did reveal he was an assistant supervisor for the state Revenue Department who retired in 2000. He said he is married but would not say how many children he has.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Solomon Jackson Jr., of Columbia, winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot, refused Tuesday to say much about himself or his plans, including whether he will take his winnings annually over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Edna Delbridge and Rodney Jackson, family members of Solomon Jackson, embrace as they arrive at the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center, Tuesday, August 25, 2009. Solomon Jackson, A retired South Carolina state employee who spent two bucks on the lottery last week is the winner of a $260 million Powerball jackpot.
(Click for full-size; opens in new window)Amber Baldwin, right, assistant manager at the Murphy USA store in Columbia, S.C. sells a South Carolina Education Lottery ticket to Laura Myers, 60, of Columbia. This is the store that sold the winning $259.9 million Powerball ticket.
Congrats to the Winner and His Family!
PS: Thanks Todd for the Quick Reporting of this News Story...
Im glad for the fellow, and hope that his life and the many who will benefit from his generousity will enjoy nothing but blessings.
Congrats to Mr. Jackson and his family!
Congrats to a fellow black man.
I wonder why he spent only two dollars. If I win, I would say the same thing ignoring the thousands I have spent.
That $2.00 investment certainly paid off big time
Just goes to show you, you'll never know just how much to spend because it only takes $1.00 for six numbers to become "THE" big winning numbers. THE LUCK OF THE DRAW!!!
I'm sure he is deserving of winning and i wish his family much continued success in handling this sudden winfall!!!
Congratulations to Mr. Jackson.
Congratulations to Mr. Jackson. I hope this brings him nothing but good times. Hopefully he has some sound financial plans.
I like that he only spent $2 and I wonder if that included the powerplay. When I went to lunch today, I picked up my individual ticket for tonight's megamillions drawing. I wondered what was taking so long for my slips to be played when I noticed the machine just happily spitting out ticket after ticket. Turns out the guy in front of me bought $140 worth of tickets. I wanted to ask if he was buying numbers from himself or a pool.
Sometimes people look at me like I'm crazy when they find out my pools typically only play one set of numbers for each drawing. But here is another example that plunking down a lot of money isn't required for a win.
Why is it 30yrs instead of 20yrs??? I thought the payment was over 20yrs, is it because of the amount?
Congratulations Mr. Jackson. Luck was on your side.
I hope that he manages the win, his old family and the new family that he will now inherit, well.
Good luck!!
On the main page you can click on the current jackpots of both Mega and Powerball, They show that if you do annual installments- how much you will approximately get and how many years they pay out for.. Please review there.
I hope that the gentleman enjoys retirement and the leaches that think that they need "to spread the wealth" leave him alone.
I only get $17,000 a year for disability and I don't "have a right to a piece of his pie" - it is his !
God bless him and his family - what he does is his business - unless he says that he is getting a cheap car and a doublewide because he doesn't know what to do with that much money - I will scream !
My financial advisors -
- Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk !
I need to have a biopsy - I could use some good MM news in the morning !
God bless Ohio for being a part of my trip to take my son to IU !
Bought my MM tickets there !
Why mention Race ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Because for some people, race is the only thing that counts. Congrats to a fellow human being. God bless him and his good works.
Well hopefully after tonight I'll know what it feels like to win a massive jackpot. Good Luck everyone!
It is very common for African Americans to acknowledge each other as "brotha" or "sistah" or in this case "black man"...
I was not offended by it and I don't think Editgap meant any harm.......
Remember, this is the internet...........we can't "see" each other.............and Editgap basically just revealed/shared his heritage to us......Seriously, there is no crime in that.
Thanks for addressing this Perfecttiming.
I wasn't offended by Editgap. Suppose a woman had finally won. Would people be offended if all the women on this website said...Finally a female wins!!!???
We are all different, but yet alike on the inside. It's okay to be proud of your race, sex, sexual orientation, etc. It doesn't take away from anyone or anything else.
Congrats Mr. Jackson. May God continue to bless you.
I'm sure he meant no harm.
However, I wonder if anyone would be offended if I posted "Congrats to a fellow white man" the next time a caucasian male won.
I don't think he meant any harm either..
However, I think that you would get to say "Congrats to a fellow white man" a heck of alot more than he gets to say "Congrats to a fellow black man"...lol..especially with such a large jackpot.
Some might say it is sterotypical, I just find it funny that there has never been a broke black person from the projects that hits the jackpot, but there has been a broke white person from a trailor park....Either way some BROKE person should WIN...
Good Luck to everyone tonight!!!!
No disrespect or harm intended....
I love that smile!!!!
I think everyone is ignoring the real issue at hand here: That FAKE hair on top of his head!!! That guy is bald!!! HAHAAH
It would be senseless to put "Congrats to a fellow white man" anyway because if you "REALLY" listen to news stories....when something happens, it's automatically assumed it's a white person UNLESS the news states otherwise. Being white, you wouldn't notice that. But if you are a minority you notice things like this all the time. Anyway....just like you're sure he meant no harm, I'm sure you meant no harm as well.
He is not bald and he appears to be very fit. It is good he feels that education is the way to give folks a "leg up." He has a very commendable attitude. He is also correct in keeping his family members identities secret.
I do that sometimes, just a couple bucks, maybe for multiple drawings.
So far the only difference has been how many losing tickets I have after the drawing.
CONGRATULATIONS to you and your family Mr. Jackson.!!!!!
Congratulations for sure!
But I'm wondering why Ky and Tn (and VA for that matter) haven't won a large jackpot with a single ticket yet? Please correct me if I'm wrong there.
If I said congrats to a fellow white man - there would be a firestorm !
Nice...glad to see the winner looks like he has his head screwed on straight. Personally, I would avoided the press conference and photos...but hey, congrats anyway!!
congrats.hope the teachers enjoy their cut,so we don't get higher property taxes with all the winnings for states this year.he's bald,wow a lot of bald geniuses around i say.take it, it was a quickpick,in a high unemployment state.
He worked for the state's revenue department, so unless he was the janitor there's very good chance that besides being edducated and smart he has a decent grasp of math. Spending $10 or $100 makes you 10 or 100 times more likely to win than spending just $1, but you're still vastly more likely to simply lose more money. Lottery tickets are a gamble, not an investment, and spending large amounts of money on the lottery makes abslolutely no sense in terms of the actual odds. Some players get it, and some don't.
Congrats to the winner! What a lovely smile he has!
Congrats MR. Jackson that truly is a heaven sent blessing.........
Congratulations to the winner! Since he wanted to keep some privacy I wonder why he didn't take advantage of South Carolina Lottery letting winners remain anonymous. OH well, right state, wrong city.LOL.
GOD BLESS THEM, I LOVE READING THESE STORIES AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIFE FOR HIM A YEAR FROM NOW.
Congrats to Mr.Jackson on winning the big one,and no he didn't power up that's why he stated in his interview with the press that he spent a dollar to much,because he won with the first number on the ticket so really it only took a dollar to win,if it's for you it will come. $260 million for only a buck or two I'll take that anyday.Why spend the extra buck if you don't have to if you're lucky to get all six numbers right power up isn't going to make you any richer,this is where prayer comes into play along with a little luck.I don't mind hopping over state lines to play mega millions,no power play,no problem,no stress.
Okay, I've read most of the comments, but know some asked if it was a quick pick and other curious questions...Here's the word from a friend of the family..... Mr. Jackson retired from the church and from education....Because Mr. Jackson believed in education and South Carolina Lottery claims to support education...Mr. Jackson bought a PB ticket for every drawing...Not to support the lottery...Not to win....To support education....Something he believed in....SO.....to the question, "Was it a quick pick?"....I'd say...."most likely"....
The word is Mr. Jackson usually throws the ticket in the trash can once it's purchased...this time...why?...size of jackpot...who know...but it hadn't made the trash yet......And now, Mr. Jackson ended up with the ticket....
But, "Was it a quick pick?" Are quick picks the winners?.....No....not neccessarily...the 19 year old that won $35 million and whom according to my mechanic whose friends with the young man's neighbor....received a $17 million check seen by the neighbor....The numbers were the birthdays of his sisters and mother, and himself....
god bless mr jackson i say!