A Marshall man wakes up $258.5 million richer this morning. Reporer Ken Lewellen with Missourinet affiliate KMMO was at the Break Time in Marshall where the winning ticket was sold and met Chris Shaw as he was checking his winning ticket this morning. He’s actually an employee at the convenience store, who doesn’t even usually play the lottery.
“I just knew it was big. I sold tickets all day yesterday. When I worked yesterday, I sold tickets all day, and then at the end of my shift I went ahead and bought a ticket and I bought my girlfriend a ticket. Then this morning she called me and told me that this store had sold it, we had sold it, and I thought no way, you know,” Shaw said.
It was Shaw’s ticket that was the winner. He says he doesn’t expect to change after winning the big one, but will be happy to not have to live paycheck to paycheck anymore.
“I won’t have to worry how I’m going to pay the gas bill or electric bill or stuff like that anymore, but I don’t think it’s gonna, it’s not going to change me as a person. My friends I have are still my friends. I remember people that helped me out when I didn’t have nothing,” Shaw said.
Shaw mentioned he had just purchased a truck from a friend Wednesday night (he didn’t find out that he won until Thursday morning). He was going to pay $100 a month for the truck. When asked if he’d buy a different truck now, it was clear the reality of his win hadn’t sunk in yet.
“I don’t know. I don’t know I’ll probably at least fix the motor in it you know what I mean? But I don’t know if I’ll buy, I don’t know. Right now it’s still a shock and awe, I can’t even imagine that,” Shaw said.
Shortly after the interview with KMMO Shaw was headed for Jefferson City, accompanied by lottery officials, to have the ticket verified. Thursday afternoon, the Missouri Lottery confirmed him as the winner at a press conference in Jefferson City.
In a press release, the Missouri Lottery says this is the largest jackpot prize ever won in Missouri and the 10thlargest Powerball jackpot awarded nationwide.
Shaw can select to get the jackpot prize in 30 payments over 29 years (annuity) or in one lump-sum payment worth $124,875,122 before taxes.
The winning numbers are: 11, 34, 41, 49, 55 and the Powerball number was 20. Break Time will also receive a bonus check for $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.
AUDIO: KMMO’s raw interview with lottery winner Chris Shaw
