Maryland Lottery: $731.1M Powerball jackpot claimed, winner purchased just one ticket

The single winning ticket was sold earlier this year at a small country store in the western Maryland town of Lonaconing. But for four months, the winners had not come forward to claim the $731.1 million prize, the largest in the state’s lottery history

On Wednesday, Maryland lottery officials said, “The wait is over.” A group of people came forward to claim the Powerball jackpot.

Spoiler alert: They wish to remain anonymous, nicknaming themselves “the Power Pack.” They chose the $546.8 million lump sum cash option, lottery officials said, and they will get about $366.6 million after federal and state taxes.

The winning ticket was sold Jan. 20 at the Coney Market in Alleghany County, and news that the winners were locals spread excitement in the small town. Coney Market got $100,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.

The winning numbers were 40, 53, 60, 68, 69 and Powerball 22.

Lottery officials said Wednesday in a statement that one of the winners told them of checking the ticket “about a half dozen times” and being in disbelief before telling the rest of the Power Pack.

That winner, who had bought the single “Quick-Pick ticket” for the Powerball drawing on Jan. 20, said: “This can’t be right. I’m going to work.”

Power Pack members told lottery officials they “have no plans to change their lifestyles,” according to a statement. The winners also said they “would like to invest the money to take care of their families and positively impact their communities ‘for generations to come.’”

Carole Gentry, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Lottery, said the winners told officials “they don’t want family and friends to know.”

“They just want to keep things the way they are,” she said.

Gentry would not disclose how many winners were part of the Power Pack. And she wouldn’t say if the winners worked together but said she “got the impression” that they would keep working. She also wouldn’t reveal if they live in Lonaconing.

The Power Pack bought just one ticket, and that was the winner, which is pretty rare, according to Gentry. Typically, players buy multiple tickets when it is a big jackpot.

“The odds are pretty big regardless,” Gentry said, “But to get a win for one ticket — that makes for a much more interesting story.” The odds of winning are 292 million to 1 for jackpot Powerball.