Florida man wins $235 million Powerball jackpot, youngest winner in state’s history
LAND O' LAKES, Fla. - A 23-year-old man just won a whopping $235.4 million, making him the youngest person in Florida Lottery history to claim a Powerball jackpot prize.
Thomas Yi, 23, of Land O' Lakes, claimed the prize from the drawing held on March 27. Yi purchased the winning ticket from a Publix supermarket in Lutz.
"Even after matching all six numbers, I was in disbelief and took my ticket to a retailer to have it checked," Yi calmly told the Florida Lottery. "The clerk at the counter instantly became excited and kept repeating that I had won the $235 million Powerball jackpot. I knew then that this would be life changing."
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Yi chose to receive his prize as a lump sum payment of $160,038,447.
The retailer will receive a $95,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Powerball ticket.
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When asked what he plans to do next, Yi shared that despite the money, he still wants to pursue higher education in either a business or medical field.