Includes video report
ROSEVILLE, Minn. — Thomas and Kathleen Morris, a couple from Burnsville, Minnesota, walked into the Minnesota State Lottery headquarters around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon to claim the nearly $229 million winning Powerball ticket.
"It started on Monday," Kathleen said. "We met with our financial adviser and things didn't look very promising. I told Tom the only way we're going to retire is if we win the lottery."
Minnesota's newest millionaires bought the winning ticket at a SuperAmerica at 16161 Cedar Avenue in Lakeville. Morris said he usually buys three Powerball tickets, but decided to buy five on Aug. 10 for the big jackpot.
"I told the kid at the counter, you don't need to sell anymore, I've got the winning ticket," Tom said.
The five tickets were all quick-picks. The fourth ticket was the winner. Kathleen said she kept the winning Powerball ticket in a plastic bag.
"We didn't want to lose it, we didn't want to tear it, we didn't want to soil it," Tom said.
When Kathleen heard some of the numbers, Tom was on the road to Indiana. She dismissed the drawing, saying they didn't sound like numbers she would have picked anyway.
But the couple was watching the 9 p.m. news when they learned someone in Dakota County won the Powerball jackpot. They remembered the Powerball was 38, which matched one of their tickets, sending them on a mission to cross-check the numbers.
The $228.9 million Powerball jackpot is the largest ever in Minnesota. The winners can take an annuity payment over 30 years, or a cash option that comes out to $83.7 million after taxes. As for which option they'll take, Kathleen said they need to talk with their financial adviser, saying this time it will be a more pleasant conversation.
Minnesota State Lottery acting director Jenny Canfield said the lottery's office received calls from several players who didn't win expressing excitement that the winning ticket was sold in Minnesota.
The Powerball winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 11, 18, 36, 41, 46 and the Powerball was 38.
When Tom and Kathleen called friends and family to share the news, most of them said it couldn't have happened to a nicer couple.
"We're just going to live the way we have, just a little bit higher," Kathleen said.
I wish them the best, that peace, joy and many memorable family events. I just wish also they had stayed anonymous.
Those presious people are just like us.Always worrying about the next payday...now it's lifted away...Several less loves ones not to have to worry anymore...That makes me cry for joy for them all...What a blessing I was given today.
Congrats to the winners!!!!!!!!!
Just a little FYI. You can't be anonymous in the state of Minnesota!
Can you be anonymous anywhere, just a thought, we live in a technology society, someone is going to snap your picture ,lol, also state lottery workers will talk if no one else does, just my opinion
Nice story, God bless 'em.
glad random people with a random qp won it seems
their gerls look young for 20s, they should enjoy their parents money!
and a 86 grandmom even getting something, how sweet
funny he had a set buying limit of 3 normal , but changed it cease he just had a 5 bill, i take 5,
lucky buyer :D
"We're just going to live the way we have, just a little bit higher," Kathleen said."
Now that statement puzzles me a little bit.
But I ain't sayin' nothin'.
Just sayin...
"It only takes one. It was our turn this time." <-- I hope to say that one day myself.
Congrats to the couple. Hope they were on their way out of town after that promo.
PS - Glad to hear they are MSU fans from Mi rather than "that other little school down the road". I'm a big follower of MSU basketball/Tom Izzo myself.
except for all the begging
,lol
congrats to the Morris,s wishing them the very best.
Headed to Georgia .....I hope I'm the next Pillsbury winner tonight ,wouldnt that be something......I dont know him personally but I bet he has placed conveyers in our plant though..I will buy 5 quick picks like he did....
I hope you win too TTL, good luck in Georgia!
This was just another great american story They will spend the money as they get it;
They seem like a nice couple. CONGRATS TO THEM!!! The husband still kinda has that deer in the headlights look about him.
I wish they had spoken with their financial advisor BEFORE they did a news conference. I'm sure some IRS employee will see this story and be looking to nab some gift taxes from them for what they give their family (daughters) in excess of the $12,000 allowed /person/year.
Personally, I think they went public too soon gave way too much information about themselves.
I hope they don't wind up on the next curse of the lottery
Congrats to the the lucky couple, Live Higher.
I have been wondering why always the money goes to retired olds and not goes to young people who have tremendous amount of responsibilities ahead
that pisses me off
The only way around that little bit of IRS Tax code is to do it in the form of a Trust!
And the other smart way to do it is;
“Control Everything, Own Nothing” - John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller – one of the richest men in American history - said it best, "
Own nothing, control everything". How can you not own your investment properties, yet still control them? By forming Land Trusts, LLCs, and Corporations and letting these entities own your property.
"....They usually buy 3 tickets but decided to buy 5..." omg! 5 tickets only? and the way I have given up on ever winning with less than 10 tickets.
Our lottery group played 23 lines and won nothing :'(
oh well, aluta continua
I'm puzzled too, Ridge. With that much dough I would make a lot of changes in my life and have a blast. Hey, maybe I'd even send you a case of Jack Daniels.
I'm also puzzled that you "ain't sayin' nothin'." You don't seem to be the bashful sort.
I agree. They talked too much and answered too many questions. And they need to start thinking for themselves a bit and not depend so much on their financial advisor.
Well when she said they would live pretty much the same except "higher" it just kinda reminded me of that old song:
We're gonna sit down in the kitchen
Fix us something good to eat
Make our heads a little high
Make the whole day complete
We're gonna lay around the shanty, Mama
And put a good buzz on.
But I don't wanna cast any aspersions so that's why I ain't sayin' nothin'.
congrats to tom and kathleen enjoy!!!
Old people need it more.
They gotta pay for their Metamucil and Ex-Lax and Preparation-H and Viagra and Depends and hearing aids and Fix-O-Dent and hair dye and all that.
Ask tiggs.
Nice win with a QP. Congrats to the couples.
Sad to hear they can't retire unless they won the lottery. Now, they can enjoy their remaining years in abundance.
LOL Ahhh, the hubris of the young. Before you know it, Pharaoh, you'll be their age. Good for you if you've got tremendous responsibilites ahead of you. Now you can experience the same joy they did in living a good, contributing, responsible life and hope there's a happy surprise in it for you, too. Trust me on this...you NEVER get so old that you aren't grateful for a lottery win.
To answer your question, though, the reason it goes so often to retired old people is because that's who's playing the lottery. At your age, you ought to be saving your money and socking it away for retirement instead of hoping that a one in 95 million chance on winning a lottery will solve all your problems.
Congratulations!!!