24-year-old man, winner of $768 million Powerball jackpot - third largest in US history 'screamed for 5 or 10 minutes' when finding out that he had the winning lotto ticket
Manuel Franco, 24, from West Allis, Wisconsin has been named as the US' third largest ever Jackpot winner after he won $768.4 million. He and his girlfriend each bought $10 in tickets after leaving his work because he felt lucky that day at a Speedway in New Berlin, WI. ‘I felt so lucky that i looked up at the camera and I wanted to wink at it because I really had that lucky feeling.' he told the press about that day. He was lucky, alright... because he was the only person to match all six Powerball numbers on March 27... making him the sole winner of the $768 million jackpot! He said, 'My heart was pumping and my blood felt warm; I screamed for about five or ten minutes.'
He actually didn't check his tickets until the following day when it was announced on the news that the winning ticket was purchased in his area. He tried to go into work the following day, but had to quit because he found it very difficult to concentrate.
'It feels like a dream – like any moment I’m going to be back in my room laying and it's going to be a disappointment." says Franco. ‘I simply can't believe that an ordinary guy like me could ever win the Powerball.'
Franco wants to 'help out the world' with his winnings despite originally wanting to remain anonymous. But his state, Wisconsin, does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, so he had to go public with his winnings. He wants to live a normal life as much as possible despite his newfound fortune. He opted for the single payout option of $477 million. ($326 million after taxes)
Hopefully, Franco doesn't end up on the list of stories about people who won the lottery and lost it all or run into marital or relationship problems because of it. Good luck!