American woman wins record $758mn lottery, quits her job
What's the first thing you'll do after winning a lottery? For a 53-year-old mother-of-two from Massachusetts, it's quitting her job to "just sit back and relax." Mavis Wanczyk has come forward to claim the biggest lottery jackpot in North American history - $758.7 million. The Massachusetts State Lottery is validating her claim. The previous highest jackpot worth $1.6 billion was split between three winners.
Wanczyk will receive $443mn after taxes
Wanczyk said she bought the lottery ticket at a petrol station in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She said the lucky numbers 6, 7, 16, 23 and 26, and 4, were selected based on her relatives' birthdays. The odds of winning a jackpot are one in 292.2 million. Wanczyk will receive around $443 million after taxes either in a lump sum or over 29 annual payments.
Wanczy: Winning the lottery was a 'dream come true'
"I had a pipe dream.. and it came true," Wanczyk told reporters. Wanczyk has worked at a medical centre for the past 32 years but she "called them and told them I will not be going back." The petrol station's owner who sold her the prize winning lottery said he'll donate a $50,000 prize to charity.
Who else won?
Charlie McIntyre, the chairman of the Powerball Product Group, said six other tickets sold across the US won $2 million each. Meanwhile, 34 other ticket owners won $1 million.
