CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The holder of a Powerball ticket worth more than $136 million has contacted the West Virginia lottery but doesn’t want their identity revealed, a lottery official said Wednesday.
The ticket that was sold at a convenience store in Hinton was the only winning ticket in the country to match all six numbers drawn June 3.
Assistant lottery director Randy Burnside said the winner contacted the lottery but has not yet claimed the prize. The person wishes to remain anonymous, he said.
Once the prize is claimed, the winner can either take annual payments over 29 years or the cash option of $108 million.
It was the ninth grand-prize Powerball ticket sold in West Virginia and the first since 2010.
Among the other jackpot winners was Jack Whittaker, a West Virginia contractor who won a nearly $315 million Powerball jackpot in 2002. At the time it was the largest U.S. lottery jackpot won by a single ticket. Whittaker quickly fell victim to scandals, lawsuits and personal setbacks.
HINTON, WV (WOAY) – A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $136.4 million ($108 million cash option) from the Wednesday, June 3, drawing was sold in West Virginia.
“Congratulations to the winner or winners of this incredible jackpot,” West Virginia Lottery Director John Myers said. “West Virginia has had a long history of Powerball jackpot winners and we are so happy to have another winner of this magnitude from our great State.”
The winning ticket was sold at Go Mart #93 on Stokes Drive in Hinton, Summers County. That retailer will receive a $100,000 sales bonus for selling the lucky ticket. It was the only ticket in the country to match all six numbers for Wednesday’s drawing. The winning numbers were 1, 3, 26, 41, 64 and the Powerball number was 17.
The winner also has the option taking the cash option of $108 million instead of the annuitized grand prize of $136.4 million paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years.
The Powerball jackpot for the Saturday, June 6 drawing now resets to $20 million.
The winner or winners are encouraged to sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place. The Lottery also recommends they contact a financial advisor and/or an attorney before calling the West Virginia Lottery at 304-558-0500, ext. 311 for details on how to claim.
