Fla. Powerball winner claims $73.8M lottery jackpot

Aug 3, 2010, 10:36 am (15 comments)

Powerball

Hollywood woman, 35, claims prize from July 10 drawing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Lottery announced on Friday that the $73.8 million jackpot from the July 10 Powerball drawing has been claimed.

Elizabeth Choras-Hanna, 35, of Hollywood, was the lucky winner.

Lottery officials said she will receive a one-time, lump-sum payment for the winnings in the amount of $38,929,055.11.

Choras-Hanna is an out-of-work medical assistant. Lottery officials said her twin sister Alexandra, a firefighter and paramedic, and Alexandra's husband, a retired firefighter, accompanied her to claim the prize.

The three said they plan to share the money, officials said.

"We always go grocery shopping at Publix together, and before we leave, we buy one Florida Lotto and one Powerball Quick Pick ticket," Choras-Hanna said. "Alexandra's husband was out of town, so we decided to pick out a DVD from the movie rental box, and while we were waiting for the movie, I went to buy the tickets. The next day, I went to another Publix and had them check my tickets and discovered our ticket was the jackpot-winner."

When asked why they waited three weeks before coming forward to claim their prize, they said they wanted to get their affairs in order first.

The winning ticket was sold at the Publix at 11977 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. The Florida Lottery retailer received a bonus commission of $40,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket, officials said.

WPBF

Comments

dr65's avatardr65

Wow, one ticket and a quick pick too.

Very nice!

beaudad's avatarbeaudad

I wonder if the people that pay the tax on their winnings get a tax refund when it's tax time?   beaudad

ttech10's avatarttech10

Sound like good people, good for them. And with one ticket, I bet people who spend a load on each drawing would be upset.

Genome

Must be nice. Thats why I atleast bet atleast $1 for each powerball and mega millions drawing. I know somebody has to win and it might be me.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Congrats to Mrs. Choras-Hanna on her win!

johngreek's avatarjohngreek

Congrats

use the money wisely and please help the poor and unprivileged

konane's avatarkonane

"Choras-Hanna is an out-of-work medical assistant. .........

The three said they plan to share the money, officials said."

Congratulations to all of them!    Party

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

She obviously hasn't been told how stupid it is to play Quick Picks.

Poor soul, she's probably too high strung.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations four sharring Powerball jackpot, lump-sum winners!!!  Woo hoo, after paying the additional 34.9% federal (no state taxes, lucky, lucky!) taxes that leaves apx. $25.3 million dollars for you to share (probably 1/4th each)!

Also, it is great that of the four faithful player winners that only Alexandra needs to quit her commitment to an employer.  Yep, an apx. $6,347,350 NET, each is a wonderful sum of monies to thrill in for decades!

Rudolph

diamondpalace's avatardiamondpalace

The tax is a killer. Too high. Other than that, congrats to the winner!!

CAL-LottoPlayer

Quote: Originally posted by beaudad on Aug 3, 2010

I wonder if the people that pay the tax on their winnings get a tax refund when it's tax time?   beaudad

Typically the lotto officials will initially deduct about 25% or more of the lotto winnings.  The lotto winner will then be required to pay the rest come tax time.  So yes, there usually is a hefty tax bill the lotto winner must pay on or before next April 15.

CAL-LottoPlayer

Quote: Originally posted by Genome on Aug 3, 2010

Must be nice. Thats why I atleast bet atleast $1 for each powerball and mega millions drawing. I know somebody has to win and it might be me.

It would be nice if I could buy Powerball lotto tickets when the jackpot is above $200M.  Unfortunately, because I'm in California, I am unable to.

Halle99's avatarHalle99

PartyCongrats to the winners.........I hear yah CAL-LottoPlayer..........

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Wow, nice win ......... I think that it is nice that an unemployed person won !

I hope that a very nice disabled person is the first Mega Millions Jackpot Winner from Pennsylvania ! (shhhhhhhhhhh ..... me)

There would be much less info revealed .......... name and town ........ and disabled status ........ NO MO !

US FlagDon't Tread On Us !

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