The question of who won the $15 million jackpot in the Wednesday, September 27 Powerball drawing was answered today when the newest Kansas multi-millionaire claimed the winning ticket at Lottery headquarters.
The sole winner of the top Powerball prize, who requested anonymity, is a government worker from the Topeka area. The winner had a choice whether to take a $15 million annuity, paid in 30 payments over 29 years, or a cash lump sum of $7,170,172. The winner decided on the cash lump sum. After the Lottery withholds 25% federal income tax ($1,792,543) and 5% state income tax ($358,509) on the prize, the winner will receive a check for $5,019,120.
“I'm now referring to my life as BP (Before Powerball) and AP (After Powerball),” the excited winner said with a big smile. “Last Tuesday I was worried about how I was going to come up with the money to repair the leaky pipes in my old house and put new tires on my vehicle. That was BP. Now I have the AP attitude of ‘Who needs new tires? I can just buy a new vehicle'!”
The winner purchased the lucky $1 Quick Pick ticket at Dillons 64, located at 5720 SW 21 st St. in Topeka . For selling the jackpot-winning Powerball ticket, Dillons 64 will receive a $10,000 bonus from the Kansas Lottery.
“I buy $5 worth of lottery tickets every week,” the winner disclosed. “One dollar each on Powerball, Hot Lotto, and Super Kansas Cash, and an extra $1 on the game that hasn't had a jackpot winner in awhile.”
Because a Powerball jackpot of $201 million was hit in Iowa the previous Saturday, September 23, the winner thought it unlikely there would be another jackpot winner the very next drawing.
“When I checked the winning Powerball numbers Thursday morning on The Topeka Capital-Journal web site, it was just unreal, like having an out-of-body experience,” said the winner. “I did what you're supposed to do, though. I immediately wrote my name on the back of the ticket, made a copy, and put it in a safety deposit box.”
Coincidentally, on Saturday, September 30, another lucky ticket sold in Louisiana also hit a $15 million jackpot – making it the third Powerball drawing in a row to produce a jackpot winner.
Kansas ' lucky winner has grown children and is also a grandparent. The first thing the winner did after securing the ticket was to contact the children.
“Money has been tight for the kids. It was wonderful to be able to say to them, ‘Things are going to get a little easier now.' That's absolutely the best part about winning this.”
As a new multi-millionaire, the winner would like to do some traveling and also bankroll a big family reunion at “some exotic place that we couldn't have afforded before.”
Despite newfound riches, the winner also plans to continue working.
“I've worked hard to get things the way they are and I have no plans to quit. I may, however, retire earlier than I expected.”
Kansas Lottery players have now won nine Powerball jackpots and eight Lotto America jackpots. Powerball replaced Lotto America in 1992.
Anything UP today??
