$590 Million Powerball Is Won And Winner STILL Has Not Come Forward - WHY?

[Mben]

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - It's been two long weeks since the small city of Zephyrhills learned that a $590 million Powerball ticket was sold at a supermarket here.No one expected the winner to come forward in the first days after the announcement. After all, curious residents reasoned, the person might need a few days to absorb the shock, or to consult with financial  advisers.But then a week passed, and more, and now folks are so anxious to know the winner's identity they could jump out of their skin.Continue reading <a href="http://www.kctv5.com/story/22484282/florida-powerball-winner-still-hasnt-come-forward-to-claim-590m-prize" >here</a> There are many rumors about why the winner has not come forward. Rumors such as it is a senior citizen who does not realize they won, to the winner washed the ticket in the laundry and (one we would all hope is happening) that the winner is still consulting with lawyers while waiting for the media frenzy to calm down. There is a time limit that the winner must follow to claim their prize and if they fail to do do within the time frame, they will lose it all! How devastating if this happens! I believe it is 60 days to claim a lump sum payout and 6 months to claim installments. Why do you think the Powerball winner has not come forward yet? And how would you feel if down the road you realize you had the winning ticket but ran out of time to claim the millions and millions of dollars? 

 

[Mben]

In case you missed it, the Powerball jackpot winner from Florida has claimed her prize. 

The winner of a record $590.5 million Powerball jackpot is an 84-year-old Florida woman, lottery officials say.Gloria MacKenzie came forward two weeks after hitting the second-largest lottery jackpot ever. She didn't attend a Wednesday press conference although under Florida law, her name was disclosed.MacKenzie elected to receive her winnings in a lump-sum payment, worth a pre-tax $370.8 million. She bought the winning ticket at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, a town of 13,000 about 30 miles northeast of Tampa.MacKenzie, a mother of four, grandmother and great-grandmother, did not speak to reporters outside lottery headquarters, leaving in a silver Ford Focus with family members. But lottery officials say that MacKenzie told them as she was waiting in line to buy her ticket, a man allowed her to go in front of him, enabling her to purchase the winning quick-pick ticket. Previously, she had purchased four additional tickets ahead of the May 18 drawing.In a statement, MacKenzie said she was grateful for this blessing of winning'' but said she preferred to stay out of the limelight. We hope that everyone will give us an opportunity to maintain our privacy for our family's benefit, she said.Wednesday's announcement ended two weeks of speculation among the dreamers who had snapped up millions of tickets.The jackpot eclipsed the $587.6 million Powerball jackpot split by Arizona and Missouri ticket holders last November and is second to the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot won in March 2012 by three ticket holders in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.MacKenzie, the largest sole lottery jackpot winner in history, had 60 days from the drawing date to claim a lump-sum payment.Mackenzie lives in a modest grey duplex that backs up to a dirt alley and is across from a cow pasture. Neighbors said Mackenzie never mentioned her big win. The former resident of East Millinocket, Maine, has been a full-time Zephyrhills resident for several years. She's so quiet and secluded,'' neighbor James Hill said. I'm very happy for her. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. She was always pleasant and smiling. Another neighbor, Don Cecil, joked I hope she gets a better place to live. MacKenzie's husband, Ralph, died in 2005.<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/05/powerball-590-million-winner/2392347/" >source</a>