Lottery, Lotto and Powerball Winners - CONGRATULATIONS !!!

A group of 13 Missouri state employees, who work for the Department of Social Services Family Support Division/Child Support Enforcement in Florissant, Missouri, have claimed the $224.2 million Powerball jackpot from the April 12 drawing. The jackpot is the largest prize ever won in the Missouri Lottery's 20-year history and the seventh largest Powerball jackpot ever won since the game's beginning.

Eleven of the members put $5 into the pool and two members contributed $2.50. The jackpot prize will be split 12 ways. All of the members plan to take the cash amount, which works out to be approximately $8.5 million each before taxes for the 11 members who contributed $5 and approximately $4.2 million before taxes for the two members who contributed $2.50.

The winners report that new groups are formed for drawings depending on who would like to play, and employees take turns buying the tickets.

February 22, 2006 — A group of eight coworkers at the ConAgra Foods plant in Lincoln, Neb., has claimed the record $365 million jackpot from the Feb. 18 Powerball drawing.

The group elected to take the cash option on the jackpot, valued at $177.3 million. Their respective shares will be $22,162,500. After withholding of 25 percent federal and 5 percent state tax, they will share $124.11 million or $15.5 million, respectively.

The members of the group are:

Quang Dao, 56 - David Gehle, 53 - Alain Maboussou, 26 - Chasity Rutjens, 29 - Robert Stewart, 30 - Michael Terpstra, 47 - Dung Tran, 34 - Eric Zornes, 40

The group is represented by Lincoln attorney, James H. Hoppe.

Before presenting the group with their prize, Gov. Dave Heineman noted the attention generated by the record jackpot and said, "Since its inception, the Nebraska Lottery has quietly raised more than $244 million for its beneficiary funds like K-12 education.

"I am pleased to have an opportunity to meet this lucky group of hard-working Nebraskans and present them with their share of these winnings …

"Ladies and gentlemen, life just got a bit more interesting for eight Nebraskans."

The group bought their winning ticket, one of eight (8) five-play quick pick tickets worth a total of $40, at U-Stop at 110 West "O" St., in Lincoln, at 3:09 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.

Members of the group told Nebraska Lottery officials that some of them have been playing Powerball for up to five years, pooling their resources to buy multiple tickets whenever the jackpot eclipses $45 million. Each has contributed $5 at a time to buy a total of eight five-play quick pick tickets for each drawing. They noted the irony of waiting to play when their respective shares of the prize after taxes will be just more than $15 million, which is the minimum starting jackpot for Powerball.

Dung Tran typically bought the group’s tickets, usually at the same location. He learned of their winning ticket by checking the Nebraska Lottery Players Hotline (800-224-LUCK) at about 4:30 a.m. the morning after the drawing. The winning Powerball numbers for February 18 were: 15, 17, 43, 44, 48 and Powerball 29.

While none of the group has formulated specific plans for their prize, potential actions mentioned to Nebraska Lottery officials included, "Wash my truck," "Pay bills", "Get some sleep," and, "Continue working temporarily" until their spot is filled.

Paris, France (AHN) - Three winning ticket-holders will share the 126 million British pounds – the top prize in EuroMillions, the lottery held in nine European countries. The winners will split the equivalent of $222 million. Two of the winning tickets were purchased in France and one in Portugal, according to the lottery operator. The winning numbers were 9, 21, 30, 39, 50 and the Lucky Stars numbers were 1 and 3. The jackpot in Friday’s drawing swelled after no winners emerged from any lottery since Nov.11. The possible payoff lured would-be millionaires from across the region.

EuroMillions was created two years ago by the lotteries of France, the U.K. and Spain to increase revenue by creating bigger paydays. Revenue at the three companies that run the service has risen during the past two years, and the growth prompted Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Portugal to join the game in October 2004.

In most European countries, unlike the U.S., winnings aren't subject to income tax and the money is paid out immediately once the winning ticket is validated.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - A secretary and six laboratory workers at Kaiser Permanente held the winning ticket for the $315 million Mega Millions jackpot - but they still came into work, a company spokeswoman said.

The jackpot was the third-richest prize won with a single ticket in the history of lotteries in the United States.

The winners, who each chipped in $3 for the ticket, came into work Wednesday at the medical center in Garden Grove anyway, said Kaiser spokeswoman Barbara Shipnuck.

"They bought the entire staff lunch to celebrate," said Shipnuck. "For now, they all prefer to stay anonymous."

The ticket was bought at Rainbow Water, Juice, Flower & Gift, not far from Disneyland, where the owners will receive $1 million.

Owners Guadalupe and Jose Cordova, both 53, were considering selling the store a couple of years ago but changed their minds, said their daughter, Raquel Cordova.

"My mom's like, 'No, no, someday I'll hit it big and I'll be able to retire,"' Raquel Cordova said.

The couple, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico as teenagers, decided to take Wednesday off and let their kids work.

"Mom's gonna take a long vacation ... she's here seven days a week, even on Sundays," Raquel Cordova said.

Last month in Oregon, a family claimed the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history won by a single ticket, $340 million. The numbers were drawn Oct. 19 in the other big multistate lottery, Powerball. Until then, the richest undivided lottery jackpot in U.S. history was the $314.9 million Powerball jackpot won by a West Virginia man on Christmas Day 2002.

In addition to California, Mega Millions is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Janis Goodwin, of Nashville, and Frances Davenport, of Woodbury (just outside of Murfreesboro), were elated on Monday morning when they arrived at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville headquarters to collect their prize.

CEO and President Rebecca Paul was on hand to share in the excitement. By using the Power Play option, their second-tier prize was multiplied from $200,000 to $1 million since the multiplier was five. With Power Play you multiply your Powerball winnings 2-5 times, except for the jackpot.

At the beginning of each drawing a wheel is spun to select that night's multiplier.

Officials with the New Jersey Lottery announced Wednesday that a person purported to be a legal representative for the winner of a massive Mega Millions drawing has come forward.

Besides being New Jersey's largest single-ticket jackpot, the award is also the fifth-largest lottery jackpot ever awarded in the United States, lottery officials said.

Mega Millions is played in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington state.

Lottery officials said they were trying to verify the ticket's authenticity.

They also announced that the jackpot, originally believed to be worth $250 million, was actually valued at $258 million because ticket sales before the drawing Friday were larger than expected.

On Monday, Michellene Davis, executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, advised the holder to sign the ticket and contact lottery officials.

She said the ticket could be cashed in for a lump sum of $151.3 million or taken in annual installments of $9.6 million for 25 years.

The winning numbers were 5, 16, 41, 46 and 50. The Gold Mega Ball was 1.

The French lottery firm said the winning ticket in Friday's draw was bought in 'Cafe de l'Arrivee' – the Arrival Pub – at Franconville-la-Garenne in Val d'Oise, not far from Paris.

French television showed one of the winner's sons arriving at the cafe on Saturday to celebrate and talk to reporters. The record jackpot in the lottery was 115.4 million euros won in July in Ireland.

This week's winning numbers were 12, 13, 19, 21 and 38 on the main board,

San Cartier chose the $52.2 million lump-sum option. After federal withholding taxes of 25 percent and state withholding taxes of six percent, he will receive a one-time wire transfer of approximately $36 million.

Following Lottery recommendations, the special operations instructor loadmaster sought legal and financial advice before claiming his prize.

He bought his winning "quick pick" ticket at Raley's Superstore #805 at 6200 Coors NW in Albuquerque. His shopping list at the market was short: a jug of milk and a quick pick ticket.

"I was taking my daughter to school on my way to work the next day," San Cartier said. "I heard on the radio that someone won. I went home in the afternoon and checked on-line. I started shaking and called my wife. She said, ‘No way!'"

San Cartier checked his winning numbers on-line at the Powerball and New Mexico Lottery websites, and then started checking various local news stories. He finally went back to Raley's and picked up a print-out of the winning ticket, never indicating the reasons for his interest.

The same Raley's store previously sold three large winning Scratchers and a 4 This Way! top prize valued at $1,000 to $4,000. The store also sold a $50,000 winning Scratcher under previous ownership.

San Cartier has been in the service for 15 years. September 5 marks his third anniversary at Kirtland.

The New Mexico Lottery joined the Powerball group in October 1996, and is one of 27 participating states plus the District of Columbia and US Virgin Islands. In addition to the 162 (cq) $100,000 to $500,000 winners in New Mexico (five winning numbers but no Powerball), there have been about 825 (cq) $5,000 to $25,000 third prize (four winning numbers plus the Powerball).

The New Mexico Lottery has already raised more than $250 million for public education, including more than $182 million for the Lottery Success Scholarship program. Well over 35,000 students so far have received their in-state college tuition paid by the Lottery Success Scholarship, with an updated student count pending.

The winner, whose name was not officially released, won the fortune in the Euro Millions lottery as the only player who picked the five winning numbers and ticked off the two "star" numbers, lottery officials said.

The jackpot had not been won since May and had been rolled over nine times before Friday night's draw. The winning numbers were three, 19, 26, 49, and 50, and the lucky stars were four and five.

RTE state radio named the winner as Dolores McNamara, from Gallyowen, Limerick, in the south-west of the country.

Ireland Online said McNamara's small, terraced white bungalow was deserted on Saturday.

McNamara has five children, of whom the youngest two still live at the family home.

Her youngest son (13) cycled around telling excited friends he would like to buy a horse and go on holiday, the website said.

It said McNamara was in a bar in Limerick on Friday night when she checked her ticket to find she had drawn the winning numbers.

Barman Tom Purcell said when the numbers were confirmed, McNamara showed the winning ticket to everybody and champagne was brought out for a big party.

"It was great craic [festivity]. It was all family. All her family are regulars here," he said, according to Ireland Online.

Jack Greer, who said he was with her at the time, told the radio station that she went straight to the police to ask them to take care of her ticket, then phoned her bank manager, who responded with haste.

"She went up to the garda [Irish police] station for them to look after it. They said they couldn't take responsibility for it, so they phoned her bank manager," he said.

"He came down to the garda station and picked her up and took her to the bank and put it in the vault."

The Irish player's jackpot was exactly €115 436 126, beating the previous Euro Millions record in April when a player in Switzerland won €64 040 749.

The National Lottery office in Dublin is closed because of a bank holiday weekend, so McNamara will be unable to claim her prize before Tuesday.

The win would instantly place McNamara comfortably in the top 80 richest people in Ireland on the 2004 Rich List, published annually by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.

However, she would be a long way behind top-20 material such as rock band U2, Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley and Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary.

The first European lottery, Euro Millions was launched in February last year by France, Spain and Britain, while Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland and Austria joined a few months later.

The National Lottery operates Euro Millions in Ireland.

OSA purchased the winning entry on our Swiss player’s behalf and sent his 16.6 Million winnings to his secret Lichtenstein bank account.

You too can win a huge Jackpot in another country’s National Lotto ---with the help of Overseas Subscribers Agents.

Close-Knit Family Will Keep Working, "But We'll Take a Few More Vacations!"

NASHVILLE - For the Hubbard family of South Pittsburg , Tenn. , March 30-along with six certain numbers-will forever be etched in their minds. The family, who owns Hub City Automotive Parts, learned this morning that they were the first Tennessee Lottery players to win the Powerball jackpot prize, estimated for last night's drawing at $25.5 million.

"I screamed," said Bobbi Hubbard, 41. "Then I yelled to my husband and everyone in the store that we had won the Powerball." Bobbi's husband, Richie, 51, said she "fell on the floor" and he had to literally pick her up. "This is it, this is it!" they screamed.

Bobbi and Richie, along with sons Brian and Brent, and their wives Stacey and Angel, spent the afternoon at the Tennessee Lottery headquarters in Nashville to claim their monumental prize and share their excitement. In addition to the jackpot prize, the Hubbards received a $25,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket, as their store is also a Lottery retail outlet. Bobbi purchased the advance-draw ticket for 10 drawings beginning with the March 2 drawing. She chose the Quick Pick option, in which a computer generates the series of numbers for each play.

"We'll keep working ... some," said Brian. "But we'll take a few more vacations!" The family, who hasn't decided if they will take a lump-sum payment or the annuity payment plan, isn't worried about dividing the money among themselves or that it will impact their long-standing camaraderie. "We're a close-knit family and always have been," said Bobbi. In addition to the comment about vacations, the Hubbards will pay bills, continue to grow their business, and "do some good with it," said Bobbi.

"The only thing more exciting than our first multi-million dollar winner is raising over $246 million for education, which is what we've done in just over a year with help from players and retailers such as the Hubbards," said Rebecca Paul, CEO and President of the Tennessee Lottery, after an afternoon press conference.

In addition to the Hubbards' win, another 12 players matched five of five numbers correctly; five of them will win $500,000 each since they used the Power Play option, while the other seven will win $100,000 each. Four of those players arrived at the Lottery's headquarters today to claim their prizes, including:

BOISE – Eric Kyle woke up this morning to the noon news broadcast saying someone in Boise won $18.7 million on a Powerball ticket at Big Smoke. Eric woke up his roommate and screamed "I won the Lottery!" Though his roommate thought it was a joke earlier, once in the Idaho Lottery offices everyone knew it was the truth.

The 22-year-old manager of Boise's Copper Kitchen has 60 days to decide if he wants to take the 29-year (30 payment) annuity option or the lump sum cash option, which would yield $10,397,024.

Kyle matched all 5 white numbers and the red Powerball number to win the top prize. The winning numbers were 4, 10, 15, 48, 51 and the Powerball was 13.

January 22, 2005 - Pennsylvania - HARRISBURG: Governor Edward G. Rendell today presented a ceremonial check for $14,734,333.80, less 25 percent federal withholding, to Kathleen Fitzgerald, Karen Rodgers, and Janet Bigler, holders of the single winning ticket for the Jan. 22 Powerball drawing. The jackpot had an annuity value of $26.4 million.

"In this case, not only did the Lottery proceeds from this Powerball jackpot benefit older Pennsylvanians, but so did the prize," Governor Rendell said. "By playing the Lottery, these very lucky ladies contributed to the many programs that help our older citizens with prescription drugs, property tax and rent rebates as well as free or reduced fare transit."

The friends' sole jackpot-winning ticket matched all five white balls, 11-23-32-33-34, and the red Powerball, 38, in the Jan. 22, 2005, drawing. The jackpot-winning Powerball ticket was the third winning Powerball jackpot ticket sold in Pennsylvania in six weeks and the eighth winning Powerball jackpot ticket sold in Pennsylvania since the Lottery joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002. Winning tickets also were sold in Pennsylvania for the Dec. 8 and 22, 2004 drawings.

The friends presented the winning ticket at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County earlier today, after consulting with legal and financial counsel. After examining the ticket and executing other proprietary security measures, Lottery officials confirmed that it was the winning ticket.

Joining Governor Rendell and the winners at the presentation were Secretary of Aging Dowd Eisenhower, Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt and Edward Mahlman, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

"The sales leading up to the Jan 22 drawing generated about $2.2 million for programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians, including the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET, property tax and rent rebates, free and reduced-fare transit rides, hot meals and services at senior centers across the state," said Mahlman.

More than $6.6 million worth of Powerball and PowerPlay tickets were sold in Pennsylvania for the four-draw run leading up to the Jan. 22 jackpot. Two match-five Powerball tickets were also sold in Pennsylvania for the Jan. 22 drawing worth $400,000 each; the respective ticket-holders purchased the PowerPlay option.

The winning quick-pick ticket was purchased at Nielsen's, a newsstand and convenience store located at 2 PNC Plaza, 620 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh. Nielsen's, owned by Howard Rosenberg and Jack Trombley, and managed by Robert Fulton, will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling Saturday's winning jackpot ticket. There are three Nielsen's stores in Pennsylvania and 17 locations in Ohio.

Photo by Matt Hankins

A single player has won the grand prize from the latest Mega Millions lotto drawing with a ticket bought in the Dallas suburb of Rowlett.

Lottery officials said the winning ticket from Tuesday night's drawing — worth $112 million — was sold at the Dal-Rock Grocery.

Store owner John Kamali said Wednesday that he was preparing to go open his other store when one of his employees called with the word. That was just the first of a cascade of phone calls about the drawing. "I feel great," Kamali said. "It was the best news all this year and last year. It was very good news. I'm very excited."

He said he does not know who bought the winning ticket, but he does know that his store receives a bonus of $1.12 million — 1 percent of the jackpot. That was also good news to assistant store manager Phillip Marks. "It has been ecstatic here all morning long," he said. "We're just hoping the winner will come in and identify themselves."

The winning numbers from Tuesday night's drawing were: 1, 8, 18, 39 and 48. The Mega Ball number was 1. This is the second time a ticket bought in Texas has won the Mega Millions jackpot. Both were sold in the Dallas area.

In October, Ut Van Nguyen of Carrollton won $62 million on the cash-value option from a $101 million jackpot. Besides the grand prize winner, eight players matched all five numbers but not the Mega Ball number. They will receive second prizes of $175,000 each.

Another 56 players matched four numbers, plus the Mega Ball number — good for third prizes of $5,000 each. While he was happy for his store's good fortune, Marks said it could have been even better for him. "I bought three tickets and was hoping they'd win, but unfortunately, I didn't win."

Like most parking lot attendants, Juan Rodriguez knows how tantalizing and frustrating it can be to drive a luxury car, only to have to surrender it all too quickly for a pair of crumpled dollars.

But now, after 20 years of anonymous toil for a legion of well-heeled motorists near the United Nations, the Colombian-born Ozone Park resident can sit in his own heated leather seat. Sunday, New York Lottery authorities declared him the winner of the largest jackpot ever won in the state, $149 million. The chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot were 135 million to one.

"I want to say thank God! I love him," Rodriguez, 49, said, shy and visibly nervous behind a pair of blue-framed sunglasses before a bank of a dozen television cameras outside the Turtle Bay convenience store where he bought the ticket Friday. The money couldn't have come at a better time. Two days before he bought the ticket, a mound of credit card debt prompted him to declare bankruptcy. Also, his first grandchild is due in February. "His money was not enough," said his brother-in-law, Dennis Herrera. "He said, 'Brother, I don't have money to pay the rent.'"

Friday, Rodriguez bought a Quick Pick ticket at S& N News on Second Avenue between 48th and 49th streets, two doors down from the parking lot. The next morning, he learned the store had sold the lucky ticket. He showed his stub to the clerk, who told Rodriguez that he was rich, rich enough to own a few of those BMWs he's parked. "He said 'Don't play with me,'" the clerk, Nayeem Khaja, recalled Sunday. "I said, 'No, I'm not playing you. You're the sole winner.'"

After finding out that he had won the lottery, Rodriguez called his wife, Iris, a former home health care aide, and daughter, Katty, 17, a psychology student at Touro College who is the couple's only child. Rodriguez, who hasn't yet quit his job, opted to take a lump payment of $88.5 million before taxes. Aside from the Volvo, and maybe a Jaguar for Iris, the family said they're keen for their own house and a vacation in Orlando, where they have relatives.

Katty's unborn child, a girl, also is expected to benefit from the windfall. "I can take her to a good high school," Katty Rodriguez said. "She could go to a good college. I could give her the things that I never had."

Jackpot Winner! There was one $149 million jackpot winner from New York in the Friday, November 19, 2004 Mega Millions drawing. More details to follow after the winner comes forward to claim their prize.

Also, 13 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 from Georgia, 2 from Illinois, 1 from Massachusetts, 1 from Maryland, 3 from Michigan, 2 from New Jersey, 1 from New York, 1 from Ohio and 1 from Virginia. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Ways to Win page.

Check Your Tickets NOW - You Could be the lucky winner!

Wouldn't it be great if one day you found out you were a millionaire and you had no clue? That's what happened to one Rochester man after he won more than a million bucks.

"The next day I went to the store and the girl was like you win the lotto last night how you know. Let me see your ticket, so I showed her the ticket to find out if I had the winning number. Yup didn't know I won," said Willie Alston.

Alston got the luck of the draw. He paid for one lottery ticket, but the machine ended up giving him two. The store clerk told Alston to keep both tickets and one turned out very lucky. $3 million lucky in the New York State Lottery.

Alston took the lump sum and now gets $1.5 million.

Save one person, a retired southwest Missouri man doesn't plan to shower friends or family members with gifts after winning a $1.7 million Missouri Lotto jackpot.

"My family and friends haven't nurtured any sort of relationship with me," said Bill Michael, 66, of Carthage, "and, in my best Jack Nicholson voice, 'What do you think of me now?'"

Michael, who is a retired laborer at a plant nursery, came forward Wednesday to collect his $1.7 million Missouri Lotto jackpot.

Michael let the computer pick his six numbers in Saturday night's drawing. The lucky numbers were: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 38.

He purchased his ticket at Discount Smokes in Carthage, where he usually stops on Wednesdays and Saturdays to buy $5 worth of tickets. The store will receive $17,000 for the sale.

Dover, October 12, 2004—A group of 33 employees who work for a printing company in Seaford, Delaware today presented the winning ticket for the Saturday, October 9th POWERBALL drawing and claimed the $214.7 million jackpot.

The winning employees have opted to remain anonymous and have selected the cash single payment value for the jackpot, which totals $116.9 million before federal withholding taxes. Each of the 33 winners will receive a payment of $2,657,754, which represents their share of the jackpot after federal taxes. The winning ticket was validated by Delaware Lottery officials late this afternoon.

One of the winning players told officials they checked the Delaware Lottery web site on Sunday morning following the previous night's drawing and realized they had the winning ticket, which was purchased at the Uncle Willie's convenience store, 50 S. Market Street, in Blades, Delaware.

The spokesperson for the group said they are regular players of the POWERBALL game, especially when the jackpot is large. Several representatives of the group spoke of using their winnings to pay for college tuition and other future family expenses.

The October 9th POWERBALL jackpot was the sixth largest ever awarded and was the second time this year the jackpot reached the $200 million level.

Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $1.8 billion to the state's General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL , LOTTO, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games.

Walter F. Tracey slept in until about 1 p.m. Sunday, then got a surprising jolt. The 80-year-old World War II Navy pilot checked the newspaper, and there it was in black and white: He had the winning numbers for the US$100 million California SuperLotto Plus Jackpot.

About two hours later, when with the help of a cane he walked into J.P. Liquors in Los Altos, he learned he was one of three Jackpot winners. He would receive US$33.3 million, minus taxes, and the fortunes of his large family would change.

"I haven't gotten a whoop or holler out of him yet," said his smiling son Paul Tracey, 41, who lives with his father in Los Altos Hills.

After having several strokes since 1989, Walter Tracey said he doesn't feel or show much emotion. But sitting in a chair in his living room later, mulling over his good fortune, he gave up a small smile and admitted, "I am very happy."

A day after bagging a US$294 million lottery Jackpot, Geraldine Williams battled to get her bearings yesterday as she went from housemaid to multimillionaire retiree overnight.

Williams' ex-hubby said the 67-year-old grandmother and her children are worn out by the whirlwind of public interest whipped up in the hours after Williams stepped forward to claim her prize.

"They're trying to cope with something that's unimaginable," said James Williams, who split from his now-millionaire ex-wife in 1979. "(Geraldine) doesn't want to be around anybody right now."

After keeping silent during a week of speculation, Williams and several relatives drove to Lottery headquarters Friday in a fleet of white limos to accept a US$294 million check.

The was one winning ticket sold for Friday's record $290 million Mega Millions jackpot. The winning ticket was sold in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The $290 million jackpot is an estimated amount that is expected to increase after the eleven Mega Millions states complete their count of actual ticket sales.

In Massachusetts, jackpot winners have up to one year to claim their prize, and the jackpot must be claimed in person at lottery headquarters in Braintree.

The winner can take the annuity jackpot in 26 annual payments, or a single lump-sum payment estimated at $169 million. The winner will have 25% federal tax, plus 5% Massachusetts state tax, withheld from their prize payment.

Working at the convenience store where a $213.2 million Powerball ticket was sold -- the largest jackpot prize in Pennsylvania lottery history -- had Bo Ridgeway waxing philosophical yesterday.

"It's really something if you think about it. Fantasy and myth far outweigh rational thinking," the Cumberland Farms clerk said. "People come into the store thinking they're going to win. Just like that person. It came to fruition for one person."

That person, who has not come forward yet, purchased the ticket for the Saturday drawing from the convenience store on Route 532 in Washington Crossing, Bucks County. It's near the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River in 1776.

Store manager Randy Boldizar said the buyer could be from the area, or the winner could be one of the many who come from New Jersey to buy tickets. Or it could have been an out-of-towner who stopped in after a visit to the historic site.

Maryland State Lottery officials said Friday that the winners of a $109 million Mega Millions jackpot have come forward.

State Lottery spokesman Jimmy White wouldn't identify the winners, except to say they are from Montgomery County. The winning ticket, drawn April 9, was sold at a Kensington store.

Lottery officials validated the winning ticket Friday. White said the winners will likely reveal themselves at a news conference next week.

Retired truck driver J.R. Triplett is on Easy Street: He stepped forward Thursday to claim a $239 million lottery prize, the second-biggest undivided jackpot in U.S. history.

Twirling a toothpick in his mouth and holding his wife's hand, Triplett said the prize was "no big thing to me" and gave assurances he would spend it wisely. His wife, Peggy, vowed to "shop till I drop."

Triplett, a regular lottery player, said the ticket was one of five he bought at a convenience store not far from his Winchester home - the Red Apple Country Store in Stephens City, about 80 miles west of Washington, D.C.

He said he had never been in the store before, but went in on the afternoon of the drawing and bought five tickets.

"If I'd just spent $1 that day, I would have won it. I wasted $4. It was on the top line," he said.

J.R. Triplett said that he knew when he heard the numbers being read on television that he had gotten close but it wasn't until he saw them in print that he knew he had the winning ticket. He gave his wife the news.

"I said, 'sweetheart, we got that number.' She sort of broke down, got on her knees and said a little prayer," he said. "It didn't excite me too much and to be honest, to this day it doesn't excite me too much."

The couple said they believe their faith played a role in the win.

"Thank you God. It's truly a gift from you," Peggy Triplett said.

Asked how he was going to spend the money, J.R. Triplett said one of the first purchases was going to be a headstone for a poor childhood friend who died 25 years ago.

Triplett said he waited more than a month before claiming his winnings so he could talk to a lawyer and "get everything straight." The Tripletts, who declined to give their ages, have two children and two grandchildren. At a news conference with his wife, Triplett said that he had no big plans for the jackpot but that he wants to put his money in real estate, "because they don't make no more dirt, you know."

Triplett said he has already bought a headstone for a friend's grave and plans to donate to two churches. But he and his wife of 35 years plan to have some fun with the money, too.

"Sweetheart and I might get lost for a couple of days," he said.

The odds of winning were 1 in more than 135 million.

The Tripletts took their winnings in a pre-tax lump sum of $141.5 million, instead of $239 million in 26 annual installments.

The biggest single-ticket jackpot in U.S. history is $314.9 million, won by Jack Whittaker of Scott Depot, W.Va., in a Powerball drawing on Christmas 2002. Three winners shared a $331 million jackpot in 2000.

In the case of the Mega Millions jackpot, the nearly six-week delay in claiming the prize led to speculation that the ticket had been lost or discarded.

Tim and Pam Rivers claimed the $89 million Powerball jackpot they won in the Saturday, March 13, Powerball drawing at the Indiana Hoosier Lottery Headquarters Monday afternoon.

Tim and Pam were the only winners of the large jackpot, and opted for the lump-sum cash payout of $49.9 million before taxes.

The happy couple plan to purchase a new home and return to school.

Tickets sold by the hundreds of thousands for the Mega Millions jackpot as would-be millionaires around the country bought chances to win a $230 million jackpot -- the largest in that lottery's history.

The 11-state jackpot led to higher ticket sales, despite the bleak odds of winning Friday -- one in 135,145,920, according to the Mega Millions Web site.

But someone who bought a ticket in Stephens City, Virginia managed to beat the odds to become the sole winner of the jackpot, according to the game's Web site.

The jackpot was the only topic of conversation at the convenience store where the ticket was sold, the Red Apple Shell station. "Oh my gosh, you don't know how excited we are, and we didn't even win the ticket," said Dangie Robinson, a clerk at the station

She said the store was abuzz Saturday morning with news that the winning ticket was sold there and excited at the prospect of receiving money from lottery officials. Virginia Lottery Director Penelope Kyle said store owner Harry Simpson would receive $25,000.

America's Powerball Game paid off big Wednesday night for one winning ticket sold in New Hampshire. That ticket is worth $85.5 million.

The winner will have to decide if they want 29-year annuity or the cash option worth $46.5 million. The ticket holder will have 60 days after the ticket is validated to make that decision.

This is the second jackpot win in the state of New Hampshire in the last 5 months. A $135.6 million dollar jackpot was won in the Granite State on August 30, 2003. Wednesday's jackpot is the 8th Powerball jackpot won in New Hampshire since the game began in 1992.

In addition to the jackpot winner, 508,185 other Powerball players across the nation won a total of $4,365,540 million in prizes Wednesday night.

Powerball paid off big Saturday night for two winning tickets; one sold in Indiana and one sold in Minnesota. The winners will split a $190.9 million jackpot.

The $190.9 million dollar jackpot is the tenth largest jackpot in lottery history. It ranks as the sixth largest Powerball jackpot ever.

Each ticket holder will have to decide if they want the $95.4 million 29- year annuity or the cash option worth $49.7 million. The ticket holders will have 60 days after the tickets are validated to make that decision.

In addition to the jackpot winners, 1,333,936 other players across the nation won a total of more than $8.6 million in prizes in America's Game.

Two winning SuperLotto Plus tickets matching all six numbers — 6, 9, 17, 29, 32 and Mega Number 12, shared October’s mega jackpot of $99 million.

The winning tickets, sold in Santa Clara and Los Angeles each worth $49.5 million were won by two couples. Aspiring actress Robynn Newton, 29, came forward with her winning ticket to claim her $49.5 million along with her fianc Wes Dorffi. "I chose the numbers that were significant to our lives, said Newton, "but I just chose the 12 randomly." Newton and Dorffi purchased their tickets at Fountain Shell in Los Angeles and spent only $1 dollar on lottery tickets. Newton opted for the lump sum which is $26.3 million. They plan to open a production company with their winnings and he will leave his current post with the Navy.

Sharing the mega jackpot was Santa Clara’s 7-Eleven franchisee Narinder Badwal and wife Lilla Singh, who came forward to claim their winning ticket on the Friday following the draw. The couple who will receive the payments over 26 years will receive a first payment of $1.2 million and $2.5 million on the final 26th year. They have no immediate plans for their winnings. Badwal and Singh will also receive $247,500 for selling the winning ticket.

This Lottery jackpot is the sixth largest in California Lottery history. The sales from this jackpot generated over $62 million to California’s public education.

Army sergeant wins $150 million Mega Millions jackpot

Stephen Moore walked into a Flash Foods store in Fitzgerald and plunked down a dollar for a lottery ticket because he was tired of waiting outside in the cold while his brother and a friend shopped for snacks.

The Army staff sergeant, stationed in South Korea, was a week into a 30-day leave. And even though he'd told friends before leaving for Fitzgerald that he'd win the lottery while he was home, he had never played the game seriously.

On Wednesday, Moore became the largest jackpot winner in state history when his ticket matched all six numbers for Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing for a $150 million prize.

The 30-year-old soldier picked the cash option -- worth $88.9 million before taxes.

"I told my mom to go ahead and quit work," he said Wednesday. He also plans to build a home for his wife and two daughters. And he intends to finally come through with the dream wedding his wife, Danielle, also an Army staff sergeant, had wanted. Nine years ago, they were married by a justice of the peace.

Congratulations to the lucky winner and his family.

The winning Powerball ticket, worth an estimated $135.6 million, was sold at a convenience store that is building a reputation as the place to buy lottery tickets.

The ticket for Saturday night's drawing was the second winning Powerball ticket sold at the State Line Store on Route 302 on the Maine border, and the store also has sold a winning Tri-State Megabucks ticket and a winning Cash Lotto ticket in recent years. The other Powerball ticket was worth about $25 million.

Congratulations to the single winner!

One lucky winner won US$91 Million dollars in the California Lotto.

This is the first time that the Californian Lotto has gone off since early July when US$19 Million was won.

Congratulations to the lucky Winner!

$261.3 Million Powerball Jackpot Won By Two Tickets.

America's Game paid off big for two winning tickets, one sold in Missouri and one in Pennsylvania. The winners will split a $261.3 million Powerball jackpot. Both winners will have to decide if they want 29-year annuity or the cash option worth $73.6 million each. The tickets holders will have 60 days after the tickets are validated to make that decision. The $261.3 million dollar jackpot is the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history and the largest lottery jackpot in the world this year.

In addition to the jackpot winners, 3,005,003 players across the nation won a total of $21,578,510 million in prizes.

There was one $180 million jackpot winner from Maryland in the Friday drawing!

The $180 million winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at Geresbeck's Bi-Rite on Eastern Avenue in Essex.

Also, 42 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 6 in New Jersey, 3 in Georgia, 3 in Illinois, 5 in Massachusetts, 3 in Maryland, 5 in Michigan, 9 in New York, 6 in Ohio, 1 in Virginia, and 1 in Washington.

Imagine winning US$180 Million!!!

A store near Fort Mill in the USA has sold South Carolina's first ever winning Powerball ticket . The ticket is worth $88.7 million if paid out over 30 years, or $48.8 million if paid out in a lump sum.

Congratulations to the lucky winner!

Brooklyn was buzzing yesterday with news that a winning $128 million Mega Millions ticket was bought at a Brighton Beach shop, but the winner was keeping a low profile.

"Everybody wants to know: who is it?" said Maria Diaz, a regular customer of 20 years at Brighton Beach Stationery. New York's newest megamillionaire hit the jackpot there Tuesday with a Quick Pick ticket bought at lunchtime.

Lottery officials said the winner chose a lump sum rather than annual payments.

USA Powerball paid off big Saturday night for two winning tickets; one sold in Indiana and one sold in South Dakota. The winners will split a $101.8 million jackpot.

Each ticket holder will have to decide if they want the $50.9 million annuity or the cash option worth $27.4 million each. The ticket holders will have 60 days after the ticket is validated to make that decision.

In addition to the jackpot winner, 670,022 other players across the nation won a total of more than $7 million in prizes in America’s Game.

This current jackpot run started with the Saturday, December 28 drawing. The drawing on Saturday night was the 11th draw of this jackpot run. More than 4.6 million Powerball players across the nation have won prizes since this jackpot run started in late December.

After much publicity the Australian Powerball jackpot was finally won by a single player in the January 30th draw!

The single winner won over $23 million dollars, the largest amount won in the Australian Powerball in many months!

Best Wishes to the lucky Winner!

One lucky winner won $10 Million dollars last night in the Australian OZLOTTO!

This is the first time that the Australian OZLOTTO has reached a jackpot this high.

Congratulations to the lucky Winner!