Winner of the Biggest Powerball Jackpot in New York History Is Revealed

Robert Bailey, a retired government worker, claimed last month’s $343.8 million Powerball jackpot, which is the largest in New York state history.

The 67-year-old man from New York City said he won’t stop playing the lottery.

'I was blessed': Powerball lotto winner Robert Bailey steps forward to claim largest jackpot in #NY historyhttps://t.co/m6S1TFhWVp

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) November 14, 2018

“I had to play this morning before I came here,” he told the New York Post from the Resorts World Casino in Queens Wednesday.

Bailey said he’s “faithfully” played the same numbers since 1993. In the jackpot, he’ll take home $125,396,690 after taxes. Those numbers were 8, 12, 13, 19, 27, and 40.

“Yes, I will continue playing my numbers until this train runs out,” he told the paper.

Robert Bailey of Harlem is taking the lump sum, which after taxes will be a little more than $125 million. Even though he won, he still played the lottery this morning. Says he waited to claim because he wanted to talk to a lawyer and financial advisor. #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/HpG9Pchc7z

— Samantha Liebman (@SamiLiebman) November 14, 2018

When he won, “I tried to remain calm and sat down and watch some shows I had on my DVR,” he said. “I didn’t sleep the rest of the night.”

Bailey, who has children and isn’t married, contacted his lawyer. “I’m still in somewhat of a shock but I’m happy also again,” he told the Post. “I’m totally blessed.”

Bailey said he’s planning to “do the right thing” with his money. He plans on going on vacations and buying land for his mother.

An Iowa woman was the other winner of the Powerball jackpot.

Lerynne West of Clive opted for the cash option on Nov. 5. “When you get numbers right, they show up in red,” West said of winning the Powerball. “Well, nothing showed up in red because I had the wrong date in there.”

After correcting the date, she said, “It was red, red, red, red, red, red, jackpot, and I thought I’ve done something wrong again.”

“I’m excited to share my winnings with family and friends, plan to purchase a new car, and look forward to a long vacation—or several. I also plan to give to the causes and organizations important to my family through our newly established Callum Foundation,” West also told the Iowa Lottery, according to the Des Moines Register.

Mega Millions Unclaimed

Last month’s $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot winner has not yet come forward to claim a prize, reports said on Nov. 14. The winning numbers were revealed in October, and the winning ticket was sold at a KC Mart store in Simpsonville, South Carolina, but officials don’t know who the person is, CNN reported.

“They still have over 100 days to come forward,” Holli Armstrong, a South Carolina Education Lottery spokeswoman, told the news outlet. “The winner has an option on the claim form to check ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for publicity,” Armstrong said. “If the winner declines publicity, we respect their wishes and do not release their name.”