Winner of $590 million Powerball jackpot steps forward

AP file

A Powerball jackpot ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold at this Zephyrhills, Fla., Publix supermarket seen on May 19.

By Patrick Garrity and Matthew DeLuca, NBC News

We have a winner.

The holder of the only winning ticket in a record $590.5 million Powerball jackpot is?Gloria C. Mackenzie, 84, Florida Lottery officials said at a news conference Wednesday?afternoon.

The winning numbers of 10, 13, 14, 22, and 52 were drawn May 18, with a Powerball number of 11. Mackenzie bought the ticket at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla.

She opted to take a lump sum payout of more than $370 million before taxes.

Mackenzie told lottery officials she watched the drawing and knew she was the winner that night. Mackenzie did not attend the press conference, and was seen leaving the Florida Lottery Office before it got underway in the company of her son and her lawyer.

Another person in line at the Publix let Mackenzie cut ahead to purchase what turned out to be the winning ticket, Mackenzie?said in a brief statement read by Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O?Connell at the press conference.

Responding to questions about why Mackenzie waited about two weeks to claim her winnings, O?Connell said the family consulted with legal and financial advisors before taking the money.

?This is a very large amount of money, it changes your life,? O?Connell said. ?I believe to make sure that they were ready to handle the responsibilities that comes with that kind of a jackpot win.?

The identity of the winner had remained a closely guarded secret in recent weeks, even in the small town of about 13,300 located 30 miles from Tampa.

?Being in a small town, everybody knows everybody and in some cases, everybody?s business,? Dave Walters, a reporter with a local newspaper, told the Associated Press. ?It?s hard to keep a secret in this town, but this is one of the biggest mysteries we?ve had in a long, long time.?

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This story was originally published on Wed Jun 5, 2013 12:40 PM EDT

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