An 81-year-old Rhode Island woman is the sole winner of the $336 million Powerball prize, according to ABC News.
Louise White, who is African American and of Newport, became the winner of the third-largest Powerball prize ever.
"I want to say that I'm very happy and I'm very proud. This will make my family very happy," she said at a news conference announcing her victory. "We are truly blessed. Thank you."
White's lawyer described her as "vivacious as any octogenarian."
She chose to accept a lump-sum payment of $210 million rather than 30 annuity payments paid out over 29 years. White will pay about $52.5 million in federal taxes and $14.7 million in state taxes.
A spokesperson for the family said that the winning ticket was kept inside a Bible that White slept with every night until she could get to a bank to put it in a safe-deposit box.
White said she almost didn't go to the supermarket the night of Feb. 11, when she bought her winning ticket.
When she got home, she watched the news and wrote down the winning numbers but didn't check her ticket immediately. When she did, she thought she was seeing things. She asked other family members to verify, and they confirmed that she'd won after checking on the lottery website.
"We hugged each other and jumped up and down screaming!!" she wrote in a statement. "Then I was told to 'Sign it quick!!' "
We wish White all the best. She is one lucky woman.
Read more at ABC News.
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