Powerball Winner Of $338 Million Reportedly A Truck Driver Who's Ticket Traces To A Truck Stop In New Jersey
The Powerball jackpot of $338 million was reportedly sold Saturday at a frequent stop for truck drivers in New Jersey near the New Jersey Tpk.
Lottery officials said the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history was one by one man who had the winning numbers of 17, 29, 31, 52, 53 and the Powerball, 31.
The manager of Love's Travel Stops & Country Store in Bordentown, N.J., said he was in the process of changing shifts when he received a call from a happy driver claiming to have the winning ticket.
"Upon listening to his voice he did sound happy, kind of like a relief like he wouldn't have to work as hard and nice to hear that for someone," store manager Isaiah DeVries told ABC News Monday. "I'm sure if I were to see his face I would recognize him. He claimed to be a usual here in the store,"
New Jersey Lottery officials will release information on the ticket at a news conference Monday morning at the lottery's headquarters in Lawrenceville, N.J., ABC News reported.
The Powerball drawing is every Wednesday and Saturday. In order to win the Powerball jackpot, the winning ticket must contain the five numbers that were drawn and match the Powerball number.
Lottery officials told ABC News that there was 13 tickets with the first five numbers, but not the Powerball. Those 13 winners receive $1 million apiece. They were sold in Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and two tickets in Pennsylvania and Florida.
The Powerball has been rested to $40 million, according to the Powerball's website.
The winner could take a lump sum of $217 million or have the winnings spread over the next 29 years.
Last year, the Powerball ticket went from $1 to $2, which according to Multi-State Lottery Association President Jim Haynes bumped the winnings dramatically.
"We redesigned the game and with more money going into the game, the jackpot prize pool has doubled so more people are playing because the jackpot is growing higher," Hayes said. "For $2, it's inexpensive entertainment and you can buy a part of the dream."