JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KTVI) – A self-described “homebody” who came forward to claim half of a $1.78 billion Powerball jackpot prize says he’s already making plans to live his best life.
“I’m going to just do me for a year,” the anonymous Missouri resident said, per a press release from the Missouri Lottery. “I’m like a homebody. The perfect day is sitting at home doing what I do — relaxing.”
The man’s wife, too, will spend less time at work, he told the Missouri Lottery. He expects she’ll want to travel with their newfound freetime — though he didn’t exactly sound too excited about it.
“She’s going to drag me out of town now.”
The jackpot-winner came forward as the owner of a winning ticket (one of two) that matched all the numbers of the Sept. 6 drawing: 11, 23, 44, 61, and 62, with a Powerball of 17. He purchased his at a convenience store in north St. Louis County; the other winning ticket was sold in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Even splitting the jackpot, the Missouri man now holds the record for claiming the “largest prize ever won” by a lottery player in the state, according to the Missouri Lottery.
The Missouri Lottery said the winning Powerball ticket is worth $893.5 million before taxes, but the ticketholder opted for a lump sum of $410.3 million, also before taxes.
As previously reported, those taxes will take a serious bite out of a Powerball player’s winnings. The IRS takes about 24%, and a winner can owe up to 37% on top of that due to the federal marginal tax rate. A winner may also owe state lottery taxes and income taxes (depending on where they live).
Addy Bink contributed to this report.
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