Arkansan Now Living in Michigan Wins $337-Million Powerball Jackpot
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: September 1, 2012
An Arkansan now living in Michigan has won a $337-million Powerball jackpot.
Donald Lawson, 44, who won the big prize in the August 15 drawing, didn't come forward to claim his prize until today.
Lawson, a railroad worker who lives in Lapeer, grew up in Fort Smith.
He bought the lucky ticket at a Lapeer Sunoco station.
Lawson, who said his entire immediate family has retired based on his good fortune, told the crowd gathered for the announcement that he had lived in Michigan for 10 years.
"I couldn't breathe," Lawson said, in describing what it felt like when he realized he had a Powerball ticket worth millions of dollars. "I had to look at the ticket twice."
The $337 million prize represents the third largest jackpot in Powerball history. Lawson is the second Michigan player to win the jackpot since Michigan began selling Powerball tickets in 2010. He had several wagers on the winning ticket so in addition to matching all the numbers in one wager to win the jackpot, the lucky player also matched just the Powerball on another wager, giving him an additional $4 in prize money.
Lawson said he hasn't adjusted to being a millionaire--times 337.
"I feel exactly the same," he said. "When it sets in, maybe I'll feel different. It's overwhelming."
Lawson confessed that so far he hasn't thought too much about how to spend his money. "I have to figure it out.
"But I will help my family, take care of my children and take care of myself. I can get things I've never been able to get before and still have money left over."
The first item on Lawson's shopping list is a vacation-"to wherever I want to go!"
Lawson learned of his good fortune on August 16 after his daughter told him the winning ticket from the previous night's drawing had been sold in Lapeer. Working backwards and matching the Powerball first, he checked his numbers and realized that he had a winner.
"I called my sister and told her to quit her job and come home. She laughed and said, 'Did you win the Lottery?' and I said yes!"
The winner then decided to have some fun with his mother.
"I called my mom and told her I won $200,000 in the lottery and she didn't believe me. Finally I said, 'Okay. I'll tell you the truth. I won $337 million!'"
Lawson elected the lump sum option, which is one prize of $224.6 million, less taxes (25-percent federal and 4.35-percent state). The final prize amount is approximately $158.7 million.
Lawson picked his own numbers, 6-27-46-51-56 and Powerball number 21, but they are not ones that he consistently plays. He said he was "guided from above" when filling out his bet slip.
Prior to claiming his prize, Lawson first tucked the ticket in a Bible, then stored it in a safety deposit box.
The Sunoco Station which sold Lawson the winning ticket will receive a $50,000 bonus commission.
Lawson's Powerball win is the largest single jackpot prize awarded in Michigan, surpassing the $208 million Mega Millions prize awarded to Ralph and Mary Stebbins in 2005. Michigan's previous Powerball jackpot prize of $128.6 million was claimed by Team Victory of southeast Michigan on November 12, 2010.
The $337 million win is the third largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded. The top prize of $365 million was won February 18, 2006, by ConAgra Foods Co-Workers of Nebraska. The second largest prize, $340 million, was won October 19, 2005 by the Chaney and West Families of Oregon.
The win is also the seventh largest US jackpot ever. The largest prize was March 30, 2012, in which three winners shared a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot.
Donald Lawson, 44, who won the big prize in the August 15 drawing, didn't come forward to claim his prize until today.
Lawson, a railroad worker who lives in Lapeer, grew up in Fort Smith.
He bought the lucky ticket at a Lapeer Sunoco station.
Lawson, who said his entire immediate family has retired based on his good fortune, told the crowd gathered for the announcement that he had lived in Michigan for 10 years.
"I couldn't breathe," Lawson said, in describing what it felt like when he realized he had a Powerball ticket worth millions of dollars. "I had to look at the ticket twice."
The $337 million prize represents the third largest jackpot in Powerball history. Lawson is the second Michigan player to win the jackpot since Michigan began selling Powerball tickets in 2010. He had several wagers on the winning ticket so in addition to matching all the numbers in one wager to win the jackpot, the lucky player also matched just the Powerball on another wager, giving him an additional $4 in prize money.
Lawson said he hasn't adjusted to being a millionaire--times 337.
"I feel exactly the same," he said. "When it sets in, maybe I'll feel different. It's overwhelming."
Lawson confessed that so far he hasn't thought too much about how to spend his money. "I have to figure it out.
"But I will help my family, take care of my children and take care of myself. I can get things I've never been able to get before and still have money left over."
The first item on Lawson's shopping list is a vacation-"to wherever I want to go!"
Lawson learned of his good fortune on August 16 after his daughter told him the winning ticket from the previous night's drawing had been sold in Lapeer. Working backwards and matching the Powerball first, he checked his numbers and realized that he had a winner.
"I called my sister and told her to quit her job and come home. She laughed and said, 'Did you win the Lottery?' and I said yes!"
The winner then decided to have some fun with his mother.
"I called my mom and told her I won $200,000 in the lottery and she didn't believe me. Finally I said, 'Okay. I'll tell you the truth. I won $337 million!'"
Lawson elected the lump sum option, which is one prize of $224.6 million, less taxes (25-percent federal and 4.35-percent state). The final prize amount is approximately $158.7 million.
Lawson picked his own numbers, 6-27-46-51-56 and Powerball number 21, but they are not ones that he consistently plays. He said he was "guided from above" when filling out his bet slip.
Prior to claiming his prize, Lawson first tucked the ticket in a Bible, then stored it in a safety deposit box.
The Sunoco Station which sold Lawson the winning ticket will receive a $50,000 bonus commission.
Lawson's Powerball win is the largest single jackpot prize awarded in Michigan, surpassing the $208 million Mega Millions prize awarded to Ralph and Mary Stebbins in 2005. Michigan's previous Powerball jackpot prize of $128.6 million was claimed by Team Victory of southeast Michigan on November 12, 2010.
The $337 million win is the third largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded. The top prize of $365 million was won February 18, 2006, by ConAgra Foods Co-Workers of Nebraska. The second largest prize, $340 million, was won October 19, 2005 by the Chaney and West Families of Oregon.
The win is also the seventh largest US jackpot ever. The largest prize was March 30, 2012, in which three winners shared a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot.
