The US Powerball lottery has released the name of the winner of its latest $260 million mega-draw as Soloman Jackson Jnr., a former South Carolina state employee who retired from the state Revenue Department in 2000. Jackson revealed that when he saw he had the winning number he had to literally pinch himself to be sure he was awake.
The lucky winner invested $2 in a Powerball ticket at a Columbia convenience store to become South Carolina’s biggest lottery winner yet. Powerball is played in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Associated Press reported that Jackson gave few personal details to the media, although he confirmed that he was married. He did not say whether he will take his winnings in yearly payments over three decades or in a $129 million lump sum, which would work out to about $88 million after taxes.