Arizona Powerball Winner Announced: Phoenix's Matthew Good Takes Home Other Half Of Jackpot
For more than 10 days, the nation knew nothing of the other Powerball winner. All that was certain was that a second winning ticket -- in addition to Mark and Cindy Hill's -- had been purchased in Arizona. On Monday, however, the second jackpot winner was identified.
According to the Associated Press, which filed a public records request, the Powerball winner in Arizona is Matthew Good, a married man in his 30s, who lives in an affluent suburb of Phoenix.
Winners can choose to stay anonymous, but in Arizona lottery proceeds are a matter of public record. Real estate ledgers show Good purchased a $289,000, 2,500 square foot home in the Fountain Hills neighborhood in 2011.
Good took the $192 million lump sum, telling lottery officials that after meeting with financial planners, he was advised to take the money now, and not next year, when taxes could be higher following whatever resolution comes out of the fiscal cliff crisis. Good had 180 days to claim his jackpot.
Good said he plans to share his winning ticket with his wife under Arizona's community property statutes. The two issued a statement following the win, expressing their gratitude and desire to donate to charities and remain private citizens.
"It is difficult to express just how thankful we are for this wonderful gift," the Good's said. "We are extremely grateful and feel fortunate to now have an increased ability to support our charities and causes. Obviously, this has been incredibly overwhelming and we have always cherished our privacy."
Good said he only bought $10 worth of tickets the day he won. The cashier even prodded him to buy $20 worth, which he declined. He then left his ticket on his windshield for a day before realizing he'd won, he added.
The other Powerball winners are Mark and Cindy Hill of Dearborn, Mich., who took home the other half of the jackpot. Mark Hill expressed a desire to remain in his current job and give back to his community. The couple said that Cindy Hill lost her job as an office manager in 2010. The Hill's said they look forward to helping relatives pay for an education and being financially able to adopt another child, news reports said.
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