Minnesota lottery player claims Powerball jackpot

Dec 7, 2006, 10:15 am (15 comments)

Powerball

Michael Hawes and his fiancee were so tickled their baby boy survived a premature birth that they named him "Lucky." On Tuesday, the kid had his own reason to be happy: His old man just won $47 million.

Hawes, 46, said he had no idea he held the winning ticket in the Nov. 1 drawing until Monday afternoon, when he stopped at a Cub Foods supermarket in Bloomington to buy some pop. While he was there, he decided to get some tickets in his wallet scanned.

"I brought it to New York and wandered around the streets of New York with it," he said at a news conference at Minnesota State Lottery headquarters. "I had no idea."

Hawes was one of two jackpot winners in the drawing last month, which had a total jackpot of $94.1 million. A group of seven co-workers and two spouses claimed the other prize Nov. 2 in Arizona.

Hawes took Tuesday off from his job as a controller with Bloomington-based Groth Music, which sells instruments. He didn't say if he intends to keep working, but he said his co-workers were "pretty excited" for him.

For now, a bigger decision will be whether to take the $47 million annuity spread over 29 years, or a lump sum worth $15 million after taxes. He has until Feb. 5 to decide.

When Hawes appeared at the news conference, he brought his fiancee, Sarah, 30, and their 8-month-old son, who after being born six weeks early was named Lucky Steven Hawes. They were joined by Hawes' 18-year-old son, Hunter.

Hawes was wearing a hooded sweat shirt with Lucky's name in big orange letters across the front and orange shamrocks on the shoulders.

Minnesota State Lottery officials had been trying to solve the mystery of who held the state's winning ticket, suspecting that the holder was unaware or making plans before coming forward. Hawes said he didn't know any of that, though his fiancee and her mother did.

The scanner at the supermarket could tell Hawes only that the ticket was worth more than $600, but he soon figured out how much more it was worth.

"I walked outside and my eyes teared up," he said. "It was hard to breathe."

The scanner at the supermarket could tell Michael Hawes only that the ticket was worth more than $600, but he soon figured out how much more it was worth.He said he was shaking when he called Sarah, who said she first thought he was joking. He called the lottery office, but it was closed and he didn't get official confirmation until Tuesday morning after it opened.

"I didn't sleep that well," he said.

Hawes said he wasn't sure what he'll do with the money or how he'd celebrate Tuesday night, except that he wants to travel and send his sons to college. He and Sarah, who declined to give her last name, said they have not set a wedding date.

Hunter, a senior at Lakeville North High School, said he hopes to use some of the money to go to a music college next year and buy a car - a Mini Cooper. Judging from all the calls to his cell phone, he said, the whole school already knew.

"Thank God he held onto it," Hunter said.

The winning numbers were 7-8-13-46-54 and the Powerball was 35.

AP

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allcash!

WOW that is what I call luck to not know

DoubleDown

Great story ... I am happy for this man and his family...

All of us that check our tickets at the time of the draw or the morning after via the web-- perhaps we need to take a new stategy.

Just carry the ticket around for a month or so, then hand it to a clerk and see how honest they are.

LOL

 

DD

CASH Only

They better NOT choose the 30 graduated payments.

Global warming is the #1 reason to choose lump sum, if you win the lottery.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Dec 7, 2006

They better NOT choose the 30 graduated payments.

Global warming is the #1 reason to choose lump sum, if you win the lottery.

I can see you got off to an early start again...

DoubleDown

Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Dec 7, 2006

They better NOT choose the 30 graduated payments.

Global warming is the #1 reason to choose lump sum, if you win the lottery.

Sleep  Wake me up when this statement makes sense so I canThud

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

I think Cash Only is talking about the Icelandic Powerball.

mattman

this kid hunter goes to my school. hes in my math class. we found out he won during lunch and by the end of lunch everyone knew. exept for the underclassmen. its so f***ing crazy

DoubleDown

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Dec 7, 2006

I think Cash Only is talking about the Icelandic Powerball.

Green laugh

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

from $47M to ~$15M ???? the taxes are sooooo expenthief!!!!!!

goodness

hello dear how r u doing? could u tell me what follows 930 thanks.

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

Do you think he gonna ask for a prenup?

rdc137

Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Dec 7, 2006

They better NOT choose the 30 graduated payments.

Global warming is the #1 reason to choose lump sum, if you win the lottery.

Watch for DUI checkpoints on the way home.

nc6string

Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Dec 7, 2006

They better NOT choose the 30 graduated payments.

Global warming is the #1 reason to choose lump sum, if you win the lottery.

Al Gore's got a handlle on this now - pay attention.  We'll all be freezing very soon under global cooling with our one million dollar a year annuities.  Kin folks said, You got to move to Beverly!

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats on the win, Michael Hawes!

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