2017 Press Releases
January 17, 2017
POWERBALL® Jackpot Winners Claim $121.6 Million Prize in Historic Drawing
(DOVER, DE) — One lucky couple from Pennsylvania will start 2017 with a $121.6 million prize after matching all five white balls plus the red POWERBALL® in the December 17, 2016, drawing. The man and woman, who wish to remain anonymous, purchased the winning ticket at Selbyville Goose Creek, a subsidiary of Cato Gas & Goose Creek Food Stores, located at 38452 DuPont Blvd. in Selbyville, Delaware.
The man, who has been playing the Delaware Lottery since its inception in 1975, normally plays POWERBALL® and MEGA MILLIONS® when the jackpots get large. For years, he has played the same numbers. He originally bought a POWERBALL® Quick Pick ticket a long time ago and liked those numbers, so he stuck with them ever since. It finally paid off.
“I figured it only takes one ticket to win,” said the man. “I went to the machine and scanned my ticket, and all these numbers came up. I have never seen that many zeroes in my life! Once reality set in, my first reaction was to cry. I walked out of the store in tears and returned to my wife who was waiting for me in the car.”
“He came to the car and had tears on his face,” said the woman. “I didn’t know what to think at first, but then he said anxiously, ‘We are millionaires!’ I was so confused I didn’t believe him and thought he was joking, so I made him double check the numbers on his phone, and we got the same results.”
The winners selected the $72.1 million cash option and told Lottery officials they already have big plans for their prize money. “This is just such a great experience, and we don’t want to spend the money foolishly,” said the woman. “I have strong feelings toward education and would want to make donations to schools or other charities in the future. We’ve also had our eyes on an RV. Since we travel a lot, it would be perfect for our family.”
In addition, the man told Lottery officials it has always been a dream of his to own a hot rod, and he may get one down the road.
This drawing represents the second-highest Delaware jackpot winner on a single ticket. The highest was in 2004, when a winner of the $214.7 million jackpot took the cash option of $116.9 million.
“Winning is not going to change me,” said the woman. “I told him I don’t want us to be different because of the money. We are very blessed to win.”
The winning numbers for the December 17 drawing were 01, 08, 16, 57 and 67. The POWERBALL® number was 09, and the Power Play number was 2x.
The winners claimed their prize (less 25 percent after federal tax) at Delaware Lottery Headquarters in Dover on Friday, January 13, 2017.
About the Delaware Lottery
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $4.7 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®, MEGA MILLIONS®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, LUCKY FOR LIFE™, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, KENO®, iGaming and assorted Instant Games, Video Lottery, Sports Lottery, and Table Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at www.delottery.com, at licensed locations and from the Lottery’s office in Dover.
About POWERBALL®
POWERBALL® drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 9:59 p.m. Central Time, 8:59 p.m. Mountain Time and 7:59 p.m. Pacific Time. For more information about POWERBALL® please visit www.powerball.com.
The 47 U.S. lotteries where POWERBALL® is available are: Arizona Lottery, Arkansas Lottery, California Lottery, Colorado Lottery, Connecticut Lottery Corporation, D.C. Lottery & CGCB, Delaware State Lottery, Florida Lottery, Georgia Lottery Corporation, Hoosier Lottery, Idaho Lottery, Illinois Lottery, Iowa Lottery, Kansas Lottery, Kentucky Lottery Corporation, Loteria Electronica de Puerto Rico, Louisiana Lottery Corporation, Maine Lottery, Maryland Lottery, Massachusetts Lottery, Michigan Lottery, Minnesota State Lottery, Missouri Lottery, Montana Lottery, Nebraska Lottery, New Hampshire Lottery Commission, New Jersey Lottery, New Mexico Lottery Authority, New York Lottery, North Carolina Education Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, Oklahoma Lottery, Oregon Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery, Rhode Island Lottery, South Carolina Education Lottery, South Dakota Lottery, Tennessee Education Lottery, Texas Lottery, U.S. Virgin Islands Lottery, Vermont Lottery, Virginia Lottery, Washington Lottery, Wisconsin Lottery, Wyoming Lottery, and the West Virginia Lottery. POWERBALL® is owned by the Multi-State Lottery Association, which is a government-benefit, nonprofit association owned and operated by 37 member lotteries.
POWERBALL® and Power Play® are registered trademarks of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
Winner privacy is our policy.
The Delaware Lottery publishes winner names only with their consent.
About the Delaware Lottery:
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $4.1 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®, MEGA MILLIONS®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, DELAWARE CASH 5®, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, KENO®, iGaming and assorted Instant Games, Video Lottery, Sports Lottery and Table Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed locations, and from the Lottery's office in Dover.
Winner Privacy is our Policy.
The Delaware Lottery only publishes winner names with their consent.
