Manuel Franco just stopped by a gas station in Wisconsin, picked a series of numbers randomly, then paid US$10.
“I honestly felt so lucky that I did look at the camera, and I really wanted to wink at it, because I just had that lucky feeling,” Franco said, as reported by NBC News
His gut feel turned real as he won the Powerball prize of US$768 million, the third largest jackpot in the US lottery history.
Franco opted to get the entire option of US$477 million cash. After taxes, he will net US$26 million.
The 24-year old bachelor said he has hired a team of lawyers and financial advisers and promised not to squander his windfall on luxury items.
However, he felt that days after the winning, he was constantly looking over his shoulder.
Two US congressmen introduced a bill that would allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.