One lucky player! $155.2 million winning Powerball ticket sold in Wisconsin
PEWAUKEE -- One lucky Wisconsin player is holding a $155.2 winning Powerball ticket from the Wednesday, March 22nd Powerball drawing. It was sold in Pewaukee.
Pewaukee Corner Pump
The winner matched five out of five numbers plus the Powerball. Wednesday's winning Powerball numbers were 2, 9, 27, 29 and 42 with a Powerball of 9. The Power Play number was 2.
The jackpot ticket is worth $155.2 million when paid out as an annuity, or $93.1 million as a lump sum cash payment.
The lucky winner purchased their ticket at Pewaukee Corner Pump at 1194 West Capitol Drive in Pewaukee. Retailers who sell winning tickets over $599 receive an incentive of 2 percent of the winning ticket amount, up to $100,000.
The workers at Pewaukee Corner Pump have sold winning lottery tickets before but nothing like this. In fact, when they realized the size of the jackpot they had to do a double take.
Pewaukee Corner Pump
Mike Brazeau opened the shop Thursday morning, March 23rd.
Mike Brazeau
"When we turned on the lottery system, a note came up and says, 'Congratulations Pewaukee Corner Pump for winning the number,'" said Brazeau.
Brazeau said he didn't believe it.
"It said the $155.2 million, so I was like, 'yeah right.' About five minutes later, the lottery actually called and congratulated me," said Brazeau.
At that point, Brazeau sent a text to Joe McMahon, whose family owns the Pewaukee Corner Pump.
"When I woke up, I looked at it and I'm like 'he's got to be joking,'" said McMahon. "So I texted him back and said, 'are you kidding?' He said 'no.' I'm like, 'a million dollar winner?' He said, 'no, the big one.' I said, 'interesting.'"
What did McMahon do next?
"I checked my ticket first -- right away," said McMahon.
As the regulars started coming in, word of the winning ticket spread quickly.
Pewaukee Corner Pump
"I actually got a group chat on my phone and someone had asked if I was the winner. Sadly, I'm not the winner but it's kind of cool to have it happen right down the street from where I live," said Rob Hokenson.
"We're hoping it's one of the regulars that won and somebody that really needs it," said Brazeau.
Joe McMahon
Of course the staff is curious as to who won, but lottery security is guarding the surveillance video.
"So they can figure out who the winner is so when the person does come forward, they know exactly who it is and make sure it is them," said McMahon.
There's a cap on how much the gas station gets: $100,000. McMahon said the family's happy with that. After all, their business might now become the go-to place for Powerball tickets.
Pewaukee Corner Pump
"Pretty surreal, I still don't believe it," McMahon said.
Winners at all prize levels have 180 days from the drawing to claim their prizes.
Winners of more than $599 must claim their prize at the Lottery’s Madison or Milwaukee office or by mail.
This is the 16thPowerball jackpot ticket sold in Wisconsin since the game was introduced in April of 1992.
This will be the second largest prize awarded to a Wisconsin winner. The largest was a ticket worth $208.8 million sold in August of 2006 to a group of 100 individuals who called themselves the Miracle 100. That ticket was sold at Ma and Pa Grocery in Fond du Lac.
The last Powerball jackpot winner from Wisconsin was Doug Miron of Marinette. He won $31.4 million on October 14, 2009 on a ticket he purchased at City Limits in Marinette.
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