Congrats to the Pennsylvania Powerball winner! Gary Patel, owner of Federal Beer in Point Breeze, South Philadelphia, sold the Powerball winning numbers for the $131.5 million jackpot ticket. According to Philly.com on Monday, June 24, 2013, Patel will receive a $100,000 bonus check for selling the Pennsylvania Powerball winning jackpot ticket for Saturday's drawing.
Philly.com reported Monday, June 24,
"Elizabeth Brassell, a spokeswoman for the state Revenue Department, said the winner won't be identified until today at the earliest, when government offices open. The person or group with the winning ticket - 13-19-23-33-57, and the red Powerball 28 - has the option of taking the $131.5 million annuity, or $77.4 million cash, minus the 25 percent federal withholding."
In case you missed the Powerball drawing, the Powerball winning numbers for June 22, 2013, were 13, 19, 23, 33, 57, and the red Powerball number is 28. There was only one Powerball jackpot winner from Pennsylvania. The estimated jackpot was originally set at $127 million, but continued to climb until it reached $131.5 million at the time of the drawing. The Pennsylvania Powerball lottery winner has the option to take the $131.5 million jackpot over 30 annual payments, or take the one-time payment of $77.4 million in cash. Both options are before taxes are deducted.
When asked what Patel plans to do with his $100,000 bonus money, he told NBC Philladelphia.com on Monday, June 24,
"One, I gotta make sure my employees are happy," said Patel, who plans to give them each a bonus. "Two, I recently just had twins, most of the money (I’m) going to try to put it away for their college fund, and maybe we'll take a vacation."
Although the Pennsylvania Powerball lottery winner's $131.5 million jackpot win is huge, it's no where near the largest jackpot in Powerball history. The largest Powerball jackpot in lottery history was $590.5 million annuity (cash option of $370.8 million). It was won by one Florida lottery winner on May 18, 2013. See the article Florida Powerball lottery winner Gloria MacKenzie claims massive $590M jackpot for more details.
When is the Next Powerball Drawing?
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for June 26, 2013 at 10:59 p.m. EDT. Since the Pennsylvania Powerball winner scored the entire $131.5 million jackpot in Saturday's drawing, the Powerball resets itself to the minimum jackpot of $40 million annuity, or $23.5 million for a one-time cash lump-sum payment for Wednesday night's drawing. Both options are before taxes are deducted. The Powerball game is played in 43 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball winning numbers are drawn live Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Tickets cost $2 each.
Source: Powerball.com
Photo Credit: Powerball Winning Jackpot Lottery Money by Morguefile; imelenchon
