NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee couple that won a share of the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot says they plan to return to their jobs after winning the mammoth prize.
John and Lisa Robinson said they plan to pay off the mortgage on their small house in Munford, Tennessee, pay off their daughter Tiffany’s student loans and go back to work.
When an incredulous news reporter asked why return to work, Lisa Robinson replied, “Why not?” Her husband added, “That’s what we’ve done all our lives.”
The Robinsons appeared with their dog at a news conference Friday at the Tennessee lottery headquarters after their winning ticket was verified by lottery officials. The couple’s lump sum payout is about $327 million.
They are going to take the lump sum cash payout because they are “not guaranteed tomorrow.”
The Robinsons appeared on the “Today” show earlier Friday and said they had a winning ticket.
Robinson said he bought the winning ticket at his wife’s request at the family-owned Naifeh’s grocery on his way home from work, even though he wasn’t feeling well. He bought four quick-pick tickets, one for each family member, then gave them to his wife and went to lie down when he got home. She stayed up to watch the Wednesday night drawing, carefully writing down the numbers.
The other winning tickets were sold in Chino Hills, California, and Melbourne Beach, Florida. Those winners have not been announced yet.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.