Checks ticket, claims $96.6M jackpot... then tells wife
TOPEKA, Ks. — Donald Damon, 70, a lifelong resident of Great Bend, Kansas, Friday claimed the largest Powerball jackpot ever won in the state just one day after the drawing.
Damon was the sole winner of the $96.6 million Powerball jackpot drawn on Wednesday evening, Nov. 11. He was introduced to the public Friday in a news conference that was held at Lottery headquarters in Topeka.
The winning numbers drawn Wednesday were 8, 12, 14, 22, and 29, with Powerball number 22.
Damon claimed his winnings at the Kansas Lottery's Great Bend office yesterday, shortly after realizing he'd become a multi-millionaire.
"[Thursday], my daughter Karen told me that someone had won the Powerball jackpot in south central Kansas on Wednesday," said Damon. "She said that she knew she hadn't won on her ticket, so I asked her to check my ticket. "
When Karen checked the ticket on the Lottery's website it became a life-changing moment.
"I told Dad he matched the Powerball number and he jokingly said that he must be the winner," said Karen. "When we realized he did have the winning ticket, we were both shocked."
Damon and Karen immediately hopped in the car and drove to the Kansas Lottery's Great Bend office.
"I wasn't sure how much I'd won," the winner said. "I figured it was $15 million. When they said it was $96.6 million, I about fell over. I've been saying for years that I was going to win a Powerball jackpot someday."
Once the paperwork was completed at the Great Bend office, Damon called his wife Kathleen at work and told her she should come home.
"I work at the Senior Center and we were having our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday," said Kathleen. "I wasn't going to leave until my work was finished."
Kathleen not only works at the Senior Center in Great Bend, she also has two other jobs. She works at a beauty salon and at Central Kansas Medical Center.
"It will be nice not having to get up at 4 a.m. anymore," said Kathleen.
The winner purchased his lucky $1 Quick Pick ticket at Dillons 51, located at 4107 10th St. in Great Bend. For selling a jackpot-winning ticket, Dillons 51 will receive a $10,000 selling bonus from the Kansas Lottery.
Damon had the choice of taking the annuity option of $96.6 million, which is paid in 30 payments over 29 years; or the cash option of $48.3 million, which is paid in one lump sum. He has decided to take the cash option. After taxes he will receive a check for $33,857,130.35.
Hopefully his wife was OK with the decision.
Now that he's a multi-millionaire, Damon plans to help a few local churches with a portion of his prize money. He also said he wanted to take his grandson Brendon to Las Vegas for his 21st birthday. Otherwise, he was undecided how he'd spend his winnings.
Kansas players have now won 10 Powerball jackpots. Kansas has also had eight Lotto America jackpot winners. Powerball replaced Lotto America in 1992. In addition, four Kansas players have each won Hot Lotto jackpots.
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Thanks to Stephanie for the tip.
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Damon. A dream come true indeed. I bet it was an even bigger surprise that of that 96.6 million the take home will be 33.3 million. And after annual taxes it will be even less.
Don't get me wrong....It is still a fantastic win, that I wish I had won.
Just opening that beautiful package(96.6mil.) and finding it only 1/3 full with more penalities to follow...can be a bomber.
Whoa, did you see the look on that woman's face? I've seen it before. I've been married to a couple women that used to get that look. She's gonna whoop him upside the head with a frying pan when they get home - that's the look she's got. And he's got that whooped pup look on his face already.
She's holding a check for 96 million and she still ain't happy!
Whoa, I need a drink.
Hell hath no fury...
That is who I like to see win. People that actually could use the money. They have been around awhile and deserve a break. Good for them.
Congrats to the winner.
"Otherwise, he was undecided how he'd spend his winnings."
But he may come to wish he had taken a little while to make some plans before he made his claim.
Another $1 Quick Pick!!!!!!
ONE IS ALL YOU NEED!!!
Congrats to them! They sure did claim it fast.
..."married to a couple of women and I know that look"..
From the looks of him...he's been there before. He's going to be alright.
I just love stories like these. She was working 3 jobs!!! She's what Tyler Perry's character Brown would say," She's a goodun"!
A $1 quick pick. I love it.
Good 4 them! Working 3 jobs at her age should be a crime. I'm happy that they were blessed! If it were me, I would have been at the claim office before the doors opened! Just being honest...I think I'd go crazy from worry about the ticket coming up missing...or some freak accident happening...like it being washed in the laundry...or food spilling on it...or the wind blowing it away...or a fire destroying it.
What's bad about getting up at 4AM? I'd be stopping at Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee and doughnut and avoiding all the traffic and the annoying sun glare. But if I go that early then I'd have sun glare going home.
How come people are surprised/shocked etc. when they win? Do we play expecting to lose? If I expect that then I wouldn't play.
The majority of players on big drawings who don't play much otherwise, will get QP, so the majority of tickets out there are QP and thus are more often the winners. But it would be like saying "Most of the winning bonus balls are higher # than 01 so you should only play 02 and up." You have a guaranteed disadvantage with QP, unless it's a computerized drawing in which case QP might as well be one of your "algorithms".
I look forward to the day when "The winning powerball ticket was sold in nj."
"I've been saying for years that I was going to win a Powerball jackpot someday."
We all do, lol
Congrats to the lucky winner!
Congratulations to the family for the win. Soooooo happy for them.
I hope he survives the beating at home and then realizes what 96 million beans is and contacts a good attorney and tax man. He claimed it TOO fast IMHO.
Why wait, he has reached three score and ten! I hope he chose the lump sum option. Enjoy and congrats!
He did choose it, check out the story. I think most people say to wait long enough to get your financial situation in order, then claim the prize.
Even the Lottery recommends doing that. Of course, anyone is free to do what they wish, but it does help to do a bit of planning first.
I understand you just sign what papers you need to sign when you go to the lottery office then I read you have to wait 2 weeks after that to get your money..You got 2 weeks to get a lawyer and whatever..He's 71...I'm almost his age and know what he's thinking..Get it and have a ball as soon as possible..Good for him and his family..
He had the choice of a 30 year annuity....
I don't think so!
Sure, collect his last check @ 100!
MarkP
With the exception of with holding taxes, the validation process isn't much different than cashing a $5000 pick-4 straight ticket. I can understand why someone who wanted to form a trust, a limited partnership, or have any other reason like remaining anonymous would wait until their lawyer made sure all the "T's" were crossed and all the "I's" were dotted. And I can understand why someone else would want to get the process started as quickly as possible.
It's all a matter of personal preference, the ticket was validated, and Donald Damon was declared the winner. There will be many opinions on what "they would have done" or "what he should have done", but at the end of the day, it's Damon's name on the check.
I'm just happy for the winner.
I don't get having to wait to claim a prize ?!?!?!
I think about my finances each day, I don't need to wait to claim a prize in order to make wise decisions !
If you are destined to make bad decisions, you will make them no matter how long you take to claim a prize.
Of course many people make it their business to tell others how to manage their affairs, I will do it my way without help from self proclaimed experts !
I already have advisors anyway
!!!!!!!
Todd, he didn't even know how much he had won. That leads me to believe he really didn't know what to do other than claim the prize. This is a problem for a lot of players. With that said... If I ever won a jackpot I too would claim the prize soon. Mainly because I don't trust a lot of people when it comes to money. That doesn't mean I wouldn't do a little research first.
Stacker47, I agree with your version. The priliminary claim is to validate and decide how to slice the moola (annuity verses cash). In PA its 6-8 weeks before the money hits the bank ( that includes the ten days it sits in your account to be audited by the bank) . In researching the states average time- 2 weeks has yet to be the factual. Minimum of 4 is what is said when I've inquired for different states.
ITs true at the end of the day, its the claimers choice and no one elses ( except Uncle Sam.liens,judgments,support, fines, etc)
Amazing it was a 1$ QP! I'm in awe.
I just noticed something...ironic...sorta...
Go on Google Maps, put in this (is near where the ticket was sold):
Congratulations to the winner!
I would have that look on my face also if I was his wife. How could he make the decision to claim a jackpot and not have his wife with him, even if it was the next day. Also, the daughter, I didn't see her age but I guest like father, like daughter........ unbelievable.
The problem with that theory is that once you filll out the paperwork, that's who the check will be made out.......it's too late at that point to claim in a trust, you already made that decision to claim as an individaul. Sure you can fund a trust or LLC later but that's not usually the point of claiming in a trust. JMO........
The point you're missing is Damon didn't want to use a trust or LLC so he had the ticket validated and a check will be made out in his name.
Congratulations to the winner and for the Love of God please do NOT look across the street from where the ticket was sold!
I think people wait to claim the prize because they know it will have severe effect on their relations with everyone, friend, family, people they don't even know yet, and they have to think about how they will respond when they all come asking for money. It may be even a bit scary to approach the Store (don't look back!!!) knowing there may be a mob waiting so they want the beehive to quiet down a little first. Me? I'd head for Lawrenceville (been there) on a day off with nice weather. I'd not wait around too long though; it's a delicate little piece of paper (especially the new tickets in nj, they fall apart easily) and it belongs in nice strong gold boullion.
but having an annuity unil you are 100 years old sure is an incentive to stay alive till 100 to collect em all.
When you get his age,and I am almost there,get the money put it in the bank and go nuts..If your young and have many days ahead of you use your brains but if you have a lot more days behind you you can go nuts..I'm almost his age and almost nuts now I need the money..simple..