The winner of the largest Powerball jackpot in history is an 84-year-old Zephyrhills woman who was in the right place in line because a polite fellow customer let her move ahead.
Mrs. Gloria C. Mackenzie was announced as the winner Wednesday afternoon during a news conference at the Florida Lottery headquarters. She was not in attendance.
The record Powerball winning ticket of $590.5 million from the May 18 drawing was sold at the Publix supermarket on Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills. Mackenzie opted to take the one-time payout of $370,896,780 before taxes rather than annual payments that would have resulted in the full amount.
Mackenzie said that she bought a single ticket on that particular visit to the store even though she had purchased four tickets previously. Another lottery player was "kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning ticket," she said in a statement.
No one answered when we knocked at Mackenzie's home; a tiny, modest, one room duplex in Zephyrhills. Our knock surprised Mackenzie's next door neighbor she shares the duplex with.
“Whoa! That's a lot of money. Yes, it is,” said neighbor Jorge Trapero.
Neighbors say Mackenzie is a sweet woman, who could often be seen taking walks up and down the road. But they say, they haven't seen her out in a couple of weeks and now, they know why.
"Couldn't happen to a more pleasant woman,” said neighbor James Hill.
Reporter: “If she's watching tonight, anything you want to say to her?”
“Congratulations...send your boy some money," Hill said.
Officials say Mackenzie is the largest sole winner in U.S. lottery history. She did not speak to reporters outside lottery headquarters, leaving in a silver Ford Focus with family members.The chances of winning the prize were astronomically low: 1 in 175.2 million.
The winner had 60 days to claim the lump-sum cash option. Mackenzie came forward after about two weeks, after consulting with a law firm and financial advisors.
Under Florida law, lottery winners in the state cannot remain anonymous; their names and city of residence must be made publicly available to anyone who asks, according to lottery officials.
Winner's statement
"We bought the winning ticket as a single ticket even though we bought four other tickets before the drawing. While in line at Publix, another lottery player was kind enough to let me go ahead of them in line to purchase the winning quick-pick ticket. We are grateful for this blessing of winning the Florida Lottery Powerball jackpot and appreciate the interest of the public, state of Florida and the Lottery. ..."