A Massachusetts woman has come forward as the sole winner of the $758.7 million Powerball jackpot, the largest single-ticket prize in U.S. lottery history.
Published Aug 24, 2017
Mavis Wanczyk, 53, was introduced at a press conference Thursday morning. She purchased the winning ticket in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She said she is still coming to terms with being the largest individual winner in U.S. lottery history. Her prize is second-only in Powerball history to the $1.3 billion shared by three winners in January 2016.
“Today, as I was driving here, I’m still like ‘this isn’t true, this can’t be,'” she told reporters. “And then now, it’s like ‘I am a winner.’ And I’m scared, but I’ll be OK. I’m just coming down from all that. I just want to be me, and be alone and figure out what I want.”
She said she came forward quickly to get it over with and never considered keeping her name private.
“I just wanted to do this, I wanted to just get it over, done with and then everybody will just leave me alone,” she said with a smile and a laugh.
Mavis Wanczyk currently works at Mercy Medical Center, a hospital in Springfield, where she has worked in patient care for 32 years.
“I’ve called them and told them I won’t be coming back,” she said while smiling and laughing.
When asked what she would be doing to celebrate tonight, she joked, “I’m going to go hide in my bed.”
Here’s what you need to know about Wanczyk and her big win
Mavis Wanczyk: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Published Aug 24, 2017
Mavis Wanczyk, 53, was introduced at a press conference Thursday morning. She purchased the winning ticket in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She said she is still coming to terms with being the largest individual winner in U.S. lottery history. Her prize is second-only in Powerball history to the $1.3 billion shared by three winners in January 2016.
“Today, as I was driving here, I’m still like ‘this isn’t true, this can’t be,'” she told reporters. “And then now, it’s like ‘I am a winner.’ And I’m scared, but I’ll be OK. I’m just coming down from all that. I just want to be me, and be alone and figure out what I want.”
She said she came forward quickly to get it over with and never considered keeping her name private.
“I just wanted to do this, I wanted to just get it over, done with and then everybody will just leave me alone,” she said with a smile and a laugh.
Mavis Wanczyk currently works at Mercy Medical Center, a hospital in Springfield, where she has worked in patient care for 32 years.
“I’ve called them and told them I won’t be coming back,” she said while smiling and laughing.
When asked what she would be doing to celebrate tonight, she joked, “I’m going to go hide in my bed.”
Here’s what you need to know about Wanczyk and her big win
Mavis Wanczyk: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
