Winning Lottery: Biggest Pay Out in History Finally Claimed by Florida Woman
Gloria C. Mackenzie, 84, of Zephyrhills, Florida, claimed the highest pay out to date from Powerball lottery, ABC News reported. The prize money was a whopping $590 million and she was the sole winner. Ms. Mackenzie will now be joining an exclusive club of 100 people who became instant millionaires through a one-time big-time lottery win.
Ms. Mackenzie brought her winning ticket to the local lottery chain with his son, Scott Mackenzie. Her son is a financial adviser from Maden Advisory Services in Jacksonville, and a lawyer from Brant, Abraham, Reiter, McCormick&Johnson in Jacksonville.
Ms. Mackenzie was not present during the aired press conference but she sent her official statement.
According to her statement which was read by one of the officials for Florida Lottery, "We bought the winning ticket as a single ticket, even though we bought four other tickets before the drawing, while in line at Publix another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning Quick Pick ticket. We are grateful for this blessing of winning the Florida jackpot... We hope that everyone will give us an opportunity to maintain our privacy for our family's benefit."
Lottery spokeswoman, Cynthia O'Connell said that Ms. Mackenzie "opted to take the lump sum cash payout of $370.8 million, before taxes, instead of 30 annual payments of $19 million. This is great excitement for Gloria Mackenzie, her family, and the state of Florida."
William P. Brant, lawyer for Ms. Mackenzie, said that his client is not yet ready to attend interviews. "Our clients have asked us to maintain their privacy; therefore we will be making no statement to the media other than the written interviews."
For this reason, Ms. Mackenzie chose not to share her plans about her money.
Another lottery spokesman, David Bishop, shared that lawyers for Ms. Mackenzie and the lottery officials had finished all necessary contracts in two weeks. Mr. Bsihop told ABC News that, "They had clearly been preparing for this. They took all this time to get everything in order."
In interviews with the Associated Press, neighbors of the Mackenzie shared their delight for the family whom they say was good and warm people. They were all happy and surprised for her good fortune. They said that the elderly woman mostly kept to herself, but that she is fond of taking short walks and small talks with anybody from the neighborhood.
One neighbor, James Hill, said that "She didn't say anything about it. She's so quiet and secluded. She's usually in the house. I'm very happy for her. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. She was always pleasant and smiling."
Don Cecil, another neighbor, joked, "I hope she gets a better place to live."
Meanwhile, back in Ms. Mackenzie's hometown in East Millinocket, relatives were also surprised and happy for her fortune.
Robert Mackenzie, brother to Ms. Mackenzie's late husband, said that he had no hint that her sister-in-law won the lottery if not for a media reporter who called him.
"It hasn't soaked in, but I'm happy for her. That would be great because she's a widow and she can have a nice home now."