Jackpot winners of the $217 million Powerball have been identified as Dave and Nancy Honeywell from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Huffington Post reports that the winning numbers for the powerball were 5, 27, 36, 38, and 41 while the red Powerball number was 12.
The couple work for the Department of Defense and Dave purchased the ticket at the Richmond International Airport before a business trip he was going on to Denver on Feb. 6. Little did he know that impulse purchase would make him and his wife millionares.
On Valentines day they went to the airport where they won the ticket and were presented their check from Virginia Loterry Executive Paula Otto. They had the choice to take 30 annual payments or a the one time cash option of $136.4 million after taxes. The couple chose the second option and took the cash in one lump sum.
ABC News reported that the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 175 million.
"A person has a better chance of becoming an astronaut (odds: 12,100,000 to 1) or dating a supermodel (odds: 88,000 to 1)," reported ABC News.
Dave's chose to pick the winning numbers at random through Easy Pick's computer syste and it is the first Powerball jackpot in the state.
According to the Virginia Lottery, Honeywell said that he plans to continue working for six weeks to finish work.
After they spoke to reporters at the press conference, the Honeywells declined to comment further to the media.
On Valentine's Day, he and his wife, a project manager, received a giant check at the spot where he bought the ticket. They chose the one-time cash option of $136.4 million before taxes.
Fredericksburg.com stated that Dave immediately called his wife when he realized that he had all the winning numbers. "I think my heart has started beating again." he said to Nancy.
"I was so nervous I couldn't concentrate," he said of being at work meetings in Denver after finding out. "My co-workers asked me what was bothering me. But I couldn't say anything."
Dave is a computer scientist and Nancy is a project manager and they moved to Fredericksburg from Spokane, Washington 7 years ago.
"We're happy to win and it was a big surprise," Nancy said. To Fredericksburg.com.
Dave said to Fredericksburg.com that he wants to buy a car. He currently owns a 13 year-old Dosge-Neon and wants to get a new SUV. Nancy noted that they will also build a large retirement home out west where their family can get together.
"We have some good intentions to do with it, too," Nancy said to Fredericksburgcom. "Like taking care of family and giving to charities."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
