TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A woman from Zephyrhills, Florida, has stepped forward to claim last month's $590.5 million Powerball jackpot, the largest in U.S. history.
The Florida Lottery scheduled a news conference for this afternoon in Tallahassee, promising "big news" about the Powerball winner.
The winning ticket was sold at a Zephyrhills Publix. Though speculation about the winner's identity was rampant in the east Pasco town, no winner had come forward since the drawing.
Around noon Wednesday, the unnamed woman walked into Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee to claim the one-time lump sum option of $370 million, said Megan Dougherty, a spokesman for the Florida Lottery. She opted to bypass a second option: the entire $590.5 million in 30 annual payments.
The winner's identity was not immediately released, but lottery officials said it was a woman from Zephyrhills, where the winning ticket was sold May 18, the day of the drawing. She came to claim her prize with her son and two attorneys.
"They just walked right through the door," Dougherty said. "They didn't give anyone a heads-up. We were just as shocked as anyone else. They went up to our front desk to check in to see what they needed to do."
Dougherty said she had 60 days from the date of the drawing to claim a lump-sum prize. She could have waited until mid November to claim annual cash payments.
The news conference will be held at the Florida Lottery's office at 240 Marriott Drive in Tallahassee to announce the winner, who won't be there for privacy reasons, she said. The name will be revealed at the news conference — under state law, the winner cannot remain anonymous.
At the Publix store where the ticket was sold, shoppers were buzzing Wednesday afternoon with news of the winner stepping forward.
"I'm glad somebody's going to be a millionaire," said Mike Castillo, who works at the nearby VA clinic. He clutched his own newly purchased ticket. "It's $50 million now. We have a work pool."
Said Mike Gregory, who lives north of the city: "We've been waiting to see who it is."
According to the statement read at the press conference, 84 y.o. Mackenzie was standing in line when the person in front of her was kind enough to let her go ahead. Mackenzie then purchased a SINGLE, QUICK-PICK ticket, which turned out to be the largest, single jackpot won in this state.
I feel sorry for every senior citizen hoping to be let skip ahead in future lottery lines, LOL!!!
Congratulations to the Winner. Live long & Prosper.
* Nino- there is no way of knowing whether the person in front of the winner was going to purchase a QP.
Luck favors the prepared.
I wish her a long and healthy life or least whats left of it
Invest & Spend without making new friends, also hope you have a good lawyer!
Big congrats to you!
so 2 lawyer double team it
and she bolts right atfer the claim
"she won't be at media press"
she must of already been packed,and has left the building
by time media try to find her, she be Long gone?
so long big winner
be intresting to watch to see how fast the media will get to her.
"We hope that everyone will give us an opportunity to maintain our privacy for our family’s benefit."
this odd lady is out of her mind to think this
u just won biggest amount 1 ticket ever won,and U THINK u have the opportunity to maintain the privacy u had before
your out of your mind lady. "we hope". that says it all, she "hopes" hope don't do jack, ask obama about hes hope
, it takes action not words fool.
and she just given away her privacy by going public, she didn't want to use ever loophole to bypass public records
no instand, she: hopes
for privacy
i don't care if florida demanda name, it could of been bypassed via all kinds of tricks/legal middle etc
i won't feel sorry for this lady when ever begger on earth shows up /plus media looking for news story comes nocking
she won't have her privacy to media gets there pound of flesh
also biggest CASH jackpot winner is also one of oddest of all time?
also the moral of the story, is never let a odd person cut u off
Prior to the drawing, Mackenzie agreed to split any proceeds with her son,
will this kid is mega rich thanks to hes mom
now that is parent taking care of her kid, massive respect
I remember reading a similar story about a winner in England a few years ago. This guy allowed a lady to go ahead of him and she bought the winner which was also a record amount at the time. Since she was a drinking buddy of his, he'd hope she would get in touch and maybe get him something but no such luck. She and her family moved out of town and probably never dropped by his pub again.
Only that person knows. Regardless of their views on fate, I'm sure it's something they're going to wrestle with for many years to come.
The moral of this story is never let anyone regardless of their age cut in front of you!!! Congratulations to the winner and condolences to the one that let her go ahead of her.
Congratulation to the winners
They were there 2 hours and lottery officials didn't call the media ????
There must been a plan to slip out of there that quick . No offense ,
84 year old can't run that fast .
Always said .........Have a plan and 1/2 packed ........
that's cold...that's cold...
Then again there was a story where someone rudely cut in line and bought a bunch of losing tickets before the jackpot winning ticket was bought. https://www.lotterypost.com/news/258982
....As Finkelstein Reader tried explaining she wanted 120 tickets, a line formed behind her.
People began to yell and one impatient man skipped to another line and purchased a bunch of tickets.
Finally, Finkelstein Reader was able to get her second batch — after the man who'd cut in front of her got his.
The winner was in the second batch
"We wouldn't have won if it wasn't for that," said Finkelstein Reader....
Congratulations Mackenzie
spend wisely
CONGRATS TO THE WINNER!! May she have a peaceful time and enjoy her new found wealth!
How is it oddest of all time? Also can you stop writing paragraphs in all your posts? lol
They don't have to "call the media" if the media shows up they have to give them the name. But they don't have to go calling the media that's crazy.
Also those lawyers, and her are idiots. YOU CAN CLAIM WITH OUT BEING PUBLIC!!! Even if your state does not allow it there are ways around it. I can't believe her lawyers would not help her get around that. I am just speachless. I am guessing she did not even want to / try.
Given her age, she might already have her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and immediate family members all set up. It is hard to keep secret with such large recipients. It would take a large conspiracy like some people here like to say.
True, but I still feel with the right people they could have come up with "something" blind trusts, LLC w.e.........SOMETHING lol
But that is just me. I just think even more so with this kind of amount your asking for trouble not doing that. This is the LARGEST SINGLE TICKET EVER. I would suggest the same for small jackpots like 40 mill even.
It's like her family does not care. At her age she probably did not even think about it. Her family won't have to deal with the crazy & get it all pretty much at her age. This poor older woman does not need the stress she is about to deal with being public.
Somebody pointed out that if you had a blind trust, you would have less control over it. You wouldn't know how and where the money is invested.
I seem to recall a few years ago where somebody claimed his winning through a trust but through Freedom of Information Act or through other legal means, the media finds out who the winner was and published his name.
It seems that the only sure way to remain anonymous is if you buy your winning ticket in a state where you are allowed to be anonymous. We still don't know the name of The Three Amigos who shared MM record jackpot last year in Maryland.
hmm really? I would like to read that story if you find it. I don't see why claiming through a trust/LLC wouldn't work a lot have done it.
With the lady being 84 years old and fraile, the live long part may not be an option, but I'm sure her family is gonig to prosper greately though.
I guess the woman already followed the 6 steps before claiming her prize. It seems like she already planned on how to handle her finances before she claimed her prize. She's indeed fortunate to win such huge amount of prize.