PIERRE, S.D. — A 23-year-old rancher whose family has fallen behind in their taxes and recently had a mobile home repossessed claimed a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot on Friday, one of the largest undivided jackpots in U.S. lottery history.
Neal Wanless, who lives on his family’s 320-acre ranch near Mission, S.D., bought the winning ticket in the nearby town of Winner late last month during a trip to buy feed. He will take home $88.5 million in a lump sum payment after taxes are deducted.
Wanless spoke for only a couple of minutes at a ceremony Friday, reading a statement. He was wearing a black cowboy hat and had a huge grin on his face during the brief ceremony.
"I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune. I will not squander it,” a happy Wanless said.
He said he intends to use the money to help those in need. "My family has been helped by the community, and I intend to repay that help many times over.”
He told lottery officials that since winning, he has spent his time preparing to bale hay and doing other jobs around the ranch.
Wanless said he intends to continue ranching, albeit on a larger plot of land. He said he told his horse, Eleanor, that "It’d be nice if we go for a longer ride than usual on a bigger ranch of our own.”
Wanless’ is among the highest undivided lottery jackpot wins in U.S. history. An Oregon family turned $40 worth of tickets into $340 million Powerball prize in 2005, and at least four other winners also won larger jackpots than Wanless’ prize.
Friends and neighbors described the Wanlesses as a hardworking family with little money.
"I hope they enjoy their money,” said county assessor Cathy Vrbka, a family friend.
"They work hard, backbreaking hard work.”
Dave Assman, who owns farmland next to the Wanless ranch, said he’s happy they won’t have to worry about money again.
"They’ve been real short on finances for a long time,” he said. "They are from real meager means, I guess you’d say.”
Todd County records show that the family owes $3,552 in property taxes on the 360 acres.
by the associates press
Neal Wanless, who lives on his family’s 320-acre ranch near Mission, S.D., bought the winning ticket in the nearby town of Winner late last month during a trip to buy feed. He will take home $88.5 million in a lump sum payment after taxes are deducted.
Wanless spoke for only a couple of minutes at a ceremony Friday, reading a statement. He was wearing a black cowboy hat and had a huge grin on his face during the brief ceremony.
"I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune. I will not squander it,” a happy Wanless said.
He said he intends to use the money to help those in need. "My family has been helped by the community, and I intend to repay that help many times over.”
He told lottery officials that since winning, he has spent his time preparing to bale hay and doing other jobs around the ranch.
Wanless said he intends to continue ranching, albeit on a larger plot of land. He said he told his horse, Eleanor, that "It’d be nice if we go for a longer ride than usual on a bigger ranch of our own.”
Wanless’ is among the highest undivided lottery jackpot wins in U.S. history. An Oregon family turned $40 worth of tickets into $340 million Powerball prize in 2005, and at least four other winners also won larger jackpots than Wanless’ prize.
Friends and neighbors described the Wanlesses as a hardworking family with little money.
"I hope they enjoy their money,” said county assessor Cathy Vrbka, a family friend.
"They work hard, backbreaking hard work.”
Dave Assman, who owns farmland next to the Wanless ranch, said he’s happy they won’t have to worry about money again.
"They’ve been real short on finances for a long time,” he said. "They are from real meager means, I guess you’d say.”
Todd County records show that the family owes $3,552 in property taxes on the 360 acres.
by the associates press
Seems like a good kid to me. Once he's seen his family and friends right, he'll go hog wild for a time. Then he'll be OK. Good luck to him and his family.
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