Congratulations to Gloria MacKenzie! The 84-year-old Florida Powerball jackpot winner claimed a record-breaking $590.5 million ticket that someone else might have won that day at the Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, Florida. According to CNN News Thursday, June 6, 2013, Mackenzie told reporters,
"While in line at Publix, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning quick-pick ticket."
Florida Lottery officials on Wednesday, June 5, said Gloria MacKenzie matched all six Powerball winning numbers on Saturday, May 18, 2013 to win the massive jackpot. Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O'Connell said,
"We are all about making dreams come true here at the Florida Lottery, and this has been a time of great excitement for Ms. MacKenzie, the Zephyrhills community and the state of Florida. We're thrilled that a Florida resident has won this jackpot, and we wish her every happiness with her new fortune."
After waiting more than two weeks to cash in her winning ticket, Mackenzie stepped forward to claim the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot in history of $590.5 million for the May 18 Powerball drawing. She could have taken the annuity option and spread out the payments over 30 years, but instead took the one-time lump sum payment of $370.9 million before taxes.
Not only did MacKenzie win the enormous $590.5 Powerball jackpot, but Publix supermarket scored a hefty prize as well. Florida Lottery officials reported that Publix, located at 7838 Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills, received a bonus incentive of $85,000 for selling the winning lottery ticket. It's a win-win for everyone!
In case you missed the lucky Powerball winning numbers for that drawing, they were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52, and the red Powerball number was 11. See the article Powerball winning numbers: Florida Powerball lottery winner hits $590M jackpot for more details.
Sources: Powerball.com; Florida Lottery; CNN News
Photo Credit: Powerball Winning Jackpot Lottery Money by Morguefile; jdurham
