2009 Press Releases
April 14, 2009
POWERBALL® JACKPOT WINNERS COME FORWARD
Delaware Lottery awards half of 174.4 million prize to "long-time friends"
Dover, DE (April 14) – Two individuals, having formed a legal entity, came forward today and presented one of two jackpot-winning tickets to claim half of the $174.4 million Powerball® drawing from Feb. 28. The winners, who wish to remain anonymous, will collect a lump sum payout of more than $46.6 million, or nearly $35 million after federal taxes are withheld.
“We are thrilled the Delaware Lottery is able to award a Powerball jackpot for the eighth time,” said Wayne Lemons, Director, Delaware Lottery. “We’re also very pleased these winners took their time before cashing in, in keeping with the Lottery’s advice. It’s always prudent to seek guidance from certified financial and legal experts before claiming a prize of this size. The Delaware Lottery advises all major winners to follow their example.”
An attorney representing the recently-formed legal entity provided the Lottery with the following authorized written statement on behalf of the winners:
“Two long-time friends will share the February 28, 2009 Delaware Lottery prize. The friends have played the lottery together for many years with the hope of sharing a lottery jackpot should either come into possession of a winning ticket. One of the friends purchased the winning ticket at Ben Bows Package Store in Dover prior to the February 28 drawing and made good on the longstanding agreement to share the prize.
The winner has taken advantage of the one-year grace period allowed by the Delaware Lottery to retain professional legal and financial advice before claiming the prize. Mindful of the affects that winning a substantial lottery prize has on the relationships with family, friends and community of prior lottery winners, both winners desire to remain anonymous and are grateful that the State of Delaware permits lottery winners such ability.
While the prize provides an opportunity for long-term financial security, the winners have no plans to retire or drastically alter their current lifestyle. They even intend to continue to play the lottery together as they have for years.”
In most other states, lotteries publish the names and faces of their big winners, but by law the Delaware Lottery allows winners to specify whether they will permit the public release of their names for promotional purposes. Winners have up to one year to claim prizes and are reminded to immediately sign the back of their tickets.
The Dover retailer sold the winning ticket nearly seven weeks ago. The other jackpot-winning ticket was purchased at Plymouth Meeting Mall in Montgomery County, Pa. The Pennsylvania winner has yet to claim their half of the prize.
The last time a Delaware player won the top prize in Powerball, the jackpot was $116.9 million. Thirty-three coworkers from Seaford split the prize, which was hit Oct. 9, 2004.
The winning Powerball numbers were 3, 16, 20, 42 and 58, with a Powerball of 7. The Power Play multiplier was 5.
Powerball tickets are sold in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $2.95 billion to the state’s General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed retailers, and from the Lottery's office in Dover.
Winner Privacy is our Policy.
The Delaware Lottery only publishes winner names with their consent.
