Tag Archives: Lottery

We know the smuck that let her go ahead is mad she won that doe . Lady Wins Massive Powerball Jackpot According to The NY Daily News An 84-year-old widow claimed the largest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history on Wednesday — but somewhere a courteous stranger is kicking himself for letting her cut in line to buy the winning ticket. Gloria Mackenzie of Zephyrhills, Fla., emerged from seclusion to collect the record $590.5 million prize, then immediately went into hiding without uttering a word. The silver-haired great-grandmother — wearing shades, sunglasses, a pink shirt and white sneakers at lottery headquarters in Tallahassee — instead issued a written statement revealing the luck that brought about her windfall. “While in line, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket,” Mackenzie revealed in her statement. “We are grateful for this blessing of winning the Florida Lottery Powerball jackpot and appreciate the interest of the public, state of Florida and the lottery,” Mackenzie’s statement said. While she asked for “privacy for our family’s benefit,” reporters converged on her tiny, single-story shack of a house that has no curb or gutter and is across the street from a cow pasture. She never returned to the $51,000 abode and there was no indication she ever would again. “I hope she gets a better place to live,” joked neighbor Don Cecil. Given her age, Mackenzie chose to take a lump sum payment — a whopping $370,896,780.54 before taxes. She told lottery officials she plans to split the money with her son, Scott, who was with her Wednesday. It’s unclear if her other son, two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandkids will get a cut. The tight-lipped octogenarian declined to take part in a press conference. Her purse strap slung over her shoulder, she left the lottery offices in a silver Ford Focus with her son, Scott, and a financial advisor, ignoring questions shouted at her by reporters. “They walked right through the headquarters of the Florida Lottery … and said, ‘I have a winning ticket and I’d like to validate it,’” Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell said. Mackenzie purchased the winning ticket for the May 19 drawing at the Publix Super Market in Zephyrhills — a town of 13,337 about 30 miles northeast of Tampa. While her odds of winning were a staggering 1 in 175.2 million, Mackenzie told lottery officials she watched the drawing and knew immediately that she matched all the numbers: 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and a Powerball of 11. Mackenzie relocated to the Sunshine State from East Millinocket, Maine, several years ago. Her husband, Ralph, a World War II vet who worked in a paper mill for 39 years, died in 2005. After hitting the jackpot, Mackenzie kept it under wraps for 17 days as she and her son sought financial counseling, O’Connell said. “This is a very large amount of money, it changes your life,” O’Connell said. “I believe to make sure that they were ready to handle the responsibilities that comes with that kind of a jackpot win.” Neighbor James Hill said he was bowled over the news. “She didn’t say anything about it. She’s so quiet and secluded. She’s usually in the house,” said Hill. “I’m very happy for her. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. She was always pleasant and smiling.” The previous record Powerball payout was $587.5 million set in November 2012. The largest lottery prize in U.S. history is the $656 million Mega Millions pot split among winners in Maryland, Kansas and Illinois in March 2012. Nice guys always finish last. AP

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Making It Rain On Them Hoes: 84-Year-Old Woman Claims Largest Powerball Jackpot In U.S. History After Stranger Lets Her Cut The Line To Buy Ticket