Single mother who won record-breaking $344 million lottery prize only received HALF of the jackpot after making a decision about her winnings
- Lerynne West was one of two winners of a $688 million jackpot drawn in 2018
- READ MORE: Curse of the lottery! As builder, 46, who won £105million on EuroMillions ‘pines for his old life back’, FEMAIL reveals how he’s not the only one who regrets hitting the jackpot
A single mother who won a $343.9 million lottery jackpot ended up receiving just half of the prize she had bagged.
Lerynne West, from Redfield, Iowa, was one of two people who won a $688 million Powerball prize in October 2018, in what was the biggest lottery in the state at the time.
At the time, Lottery officials in the state revealed she had split the jackpot with another winning ticket holder who lived in New York City.
But when she discovered she had won the jackpot, she was faced with two options.
The first was to receive 30 smaller payments of the money over the next 29 years, and the second was to take a lump sum of £198.1 million, which would become $140.6 million after taxes.
Lerynne West, of Redfield, Iowa, won a $343.9million lottery Powerball prize in October 2018 but only received a fraction of the money
West was one of two winners of a $688 million jackpot drawn Oct. 27 2018 (pictured holding her winning check)
West opted for the cash option, which paid her the immediate sum and meant she received less than half of what she had originally bagged in the Lottery jackpot.
She said she dreamed of winning a jackpot, but ‘once you have won, you realize the responsibility and the impact you can make, and all the frivolity goes out the window.’
The 51-year-old had worked for a health insurance organization, but had retired just a week before winning the jackpot at 292.2 million-to-one odds.
She said at the time: ‘I’m excited to share my winnings with family and friends, plan to purchase a new car, and look forward to a long vacation — or several.
‘I also plan to give to the causes and organizations important to my family through our newly established Callum Foundation.’
Ms West is seen here with her three adult daughters on the website for the newly formed Callum Foundation, named after her grandson who died after being born prematurely
The Callum Foundation was named for her grandson Callum, who died after just one day when he was born prematurely.
The charitable foundation is focused on making grants in the areas of alleviating poverty and hunger; education; animal welfare; and veteran’s affairs.
Mother-of-three West bought the ticket when out with her sister when they stopped for food, but then accidentally left it on her pickup truck floor.
When she couldn’t find her ticket after the drawing, and discovered a winner was bought in Iowa, she called her sister, who found it and sent a photo.
West then checked her numbers and realized she’d won the jackpot.
‘I told my sister to get in her truck and get that ticket and get up here right now! And, drive slow,’ West said.
Under Iowa law, winners’ information is public and unlike some states, it is not possible for winners to be anonymous.
After she bagged the enormous prize, West appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show where she discussed her disbelief at the win.
She told the host how, when she first entered her numbers on the IALottery website, it didn’t return any results – but she quickly realized this was because she had entered the wrong date.
When she corrected the date, she realized she had won the jackpot – and the rest is history.
Source: Read Full Article
