The winner of the $758 million Powerball jackpot came forward during a news conference at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters Thursday.
Mavis L. Wanczyk is taking home the largest jackpot ever won by a single ticket in North American Lottery history. She bought her ticket at the Pride Station & Store on Montgomery Street in Chicopee.
Wanczyk said during the news conference she was an employee at Mercy Medical Center for more than 30 years.
Massachusetts State Lottery had initially reported that the winning ticket was sold in Watertown, but says that was a mistake.
“When manually recording the names of the retailers that sold the jackpot winning ticket and the $1 million winning tickets, the information was transcribed incorrectly,” Michael Sweeney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery said. “We apologize for the confusion this created and remain thrilled that a jackpot winning ticket and two $1 million winning tickets were sold here in Massachusetts.”
Bob Bolduc, founder of Pride Station & Stores, said during a news conference that the winning ticket was sold around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Bolduc said the cash bonus the store will receive for selling the winning ticket will be donated to local charities around western Massachusetts.
There are lucky winners in eastern Massachusetts as well. One player won $1 million on a Powerball ticket they bought at the Handy Variety, 95 Common St. in Watertown, and other $1 million winner bought their ticket at Sandy’s Variety, located at 378 Washington St. in Dorchester.
A total of 34 people won a one million dollar prize in Wednesday’s drawing.
The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot in Massachusetts was in 2013.
Massachusetts made out well this time around. In addition to the 25% federal tax that the winner will have to pay, the state will collect 5% of the jackpot.
The excitement surrounding the Powerball itself has also been good for revenues, as the state gets to keep $0.80 for each $2 ticket sold. Most of the money will go into operating expenses for the Lottery, but 20% of that will go the 351 cities and towns of the state as local aid.
Last night’s Powerball drawing also created 193,147 winning tickets in Tennessee, five worth $200,000 and another worth $50,000.
Two $200,000 tickets were sold at different locations in Antioch, the other three were sold in Arlington, Denmark and Knoxville. A $50,000 winning ticket was also sold in Antioch.
