Thursday, 31 January 2019

New York Truck Driver Claims $298.3M Powerball Jackpot

Powerball Resized

A truck driver living in Brooklyn, New York, has claimed a whopping Powerball jackpot of USD$298.3 million last Friday. The win was the second largest in the history of New York lottery.

David Johnson purchased his lottery ticket on 26th December 2018 with the numbers 5, 25, 38, 52 and 67 and Powerball 24. The following day, he discovered that the winning ticket had been sold at Arnold’s Service Station on Linden Boulevard, where he bought his ticket. However, he still waited until two days later to find out if he was the lucky winner.

“I went to the store and gave the ticket to the clerk to check. He scanned it and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I needed to see it for myself, so I scanned and saw it read BIG WINNER,” the Jamaican man recalled.

“I was so happy. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was jumping up and down. I can’t even eat. I start and can’t finish my food. I’m happy with joy inside,”

The 56-year-old winner opted to collect the lump sum of his winnings, which means the man is going to take home more than USD$114 million after taxes.

Celebrating the Win

Regarding what he is going to do with his winnings, Johnson revealed that he would quit his job, buy a new house in Brooklyn and a new sports car. “I’m not going to work. I’m quitting right away! Don’t get me wrong: The job pays good, but it’s hard work,” he said.

He has also got a lawyer on board to advise him in investing his new found fortune.

Johnson moved from Jamaica to the United States at the age of 16. The Brooklyn resident was the third consecutive winner of 2018’s Powerball jackpots from New York.

The New York Lottery is the largest-scaled lottery in the US and also the most money-making. It is reported that the New York Lottery is the provider of 13% of total state education aid.