Lottery News and Stories
8 Co-Workers to Share $365-Million Powerball Jackpot
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 posted 03:05 PM EST
They are the rainbow of the American Dream: Three were refugees from war and hostile regimes, two Vietnamese, one from central
Africa. The five others were bred in the U.S. Midwest to a life of working hard as mechanics, janitors and factory employees.
That is, until today, when the group of eight people claimed their pot of gold -- the record $365 million Powerball jackpot.
"It's just a bunch of money," said Alain Maboussou, 26. "It's too early for me to retire, but I did four days ago" when the
winning numbers were drawn and the group learned they had won.
The televised news conference from Lincoln, Neb., was a far cry from the scripted reality television that graces the major
networks. The winners, many wearing sunglasses and some having come directly from the night shift at their jobs, seemed genuinely
in shock as officials handed out the oversized checks that were symbols of their winnings.
"I didn't know what to think," said Robert Stewart, 30, echoing a common refrain. He said he was a maintenance supervisor
at the ConAgra meat processing plant near the convenience store where the winning ticket was bought.
"I still don't know what to think," he said, and smiled to the cheers.
Each person contributed $5 to buy lottery tickets. There was one woman, Chasity Rutjens, 29, who had contributed to the pool
only three times before hitting the biggest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.
The group decided to take the cash immediately rather than a staggered payout, so each won slightly more than $22 million.
After withholding for taxes, each will receive about $15 million.
Powerball tickets are sold in 28 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Two of the winners were Vietnamese, who said they fled the fallout from the U.S. war in Vietnam.
"I come here to be free," said Quang Dao, 56. "It is a great country."
Other winners were identified as: David Gehle, 53; Michael Terpstra, 47; Dung Tran, 34; and Eric Zornes, 40.
The convenience store that sold the winning ticket will receive $50,000 from the lottery.
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