$198 million winning Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee
NASHVILLE - The word spread quickly.
Lottery players at the Exxon station on John Cash Parkway mused as they passed each other Sunday morning.
"Whoever it is, I hope they need it," said Jay Barber, 53. "I hope it's not one of the people with a $3 million home on the lake."
A winning lottery ticket worth $198 million was bought in Hendersonville, Tennessee, lottery officials announced Sunday.
The Powerball numbers were pulled Saturday night, and the jackpot winner's ticket matched all six numbers. Lottery officials have not said where exactly the ticket was purchased. As of Sunday afternoon, the winner had not yet come forward.
"Somebody is going to be very happy," said Cindy Johnson, 42, the Exxon convenience store clerk. Although she doesn't play, Johnson imagined what it would be like to win that much money.
"A lot of people need help," she said. "I'd take care of my mom, my friends."
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Johnson said she'd donate much of it to charity, and buy her own house. Right now, she's renting.
It was the seventh time that someone in Tennessee had purchased a ticket with all matching numbers, according to the Tennessee Lottery. Powerball is played across multiple states.
Barber was returning some low-value winning scratcher tickets Sunday. He said that if he won a big jackpot, he'd pay off his debts, give a lot to charity, and pay college tuition for his daughter and grandchildren.
"But I'm not a lucky guy," he said. Barber was at the convenience store Saturday, thought about buying a ticket, but decided against it.
Officials say the winner should sign the back of the ticket, store it somewhere secure, talk with a financial adviser and call the lottery's Nashville headquarters. The winner has six months to claim the prize.
Follow Mike Reicher on Twitter @mreicher.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Powerball winner: $198 million winning ticket sold in Tennessee
