by Ali Alwood
During the first few weeks of the new year, the buzz of social media and local gas stations became the 1.6 billion dollar Powerball jackpot. A total of 635,103,137 tickets were sold leading up to the winning announcements, bringing up a grand total of $983.5 million. Studies show that the average person is 46 times more likely to be stuck by lightning than to win the lottery, but a few lucky Americans defied the odds.
The three winning tickets were sold at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, California, a Publix grocery store in Melbourne Beach, Florida, and a Naifeh’s Food Mart in Munford, Tennessee. The winners of the California and Florida locations are yet to be announced, but Lisa and John Robinson from Tennessee have graciously redeemed their prize. The Robinsons were awarded $528.8 million, after taxes, and Naifeh’s Food Mart received around $25,000.
The Robinson’s claim that they do not plan to blow off the large sum of money. The couple still enjoy driving their Hondas and do not plan on changing that anytime soon. They also returned to their everyday jobs as a dermatologist and distribution maintenance.
Although they seem to be spending their money wisely, the Robinsons are enjoying the perks of having a deeper bank account. According to Today News, “They have received a private tour of Elvis’ mansion at Graceland in Memphis, something Lisa has always wanted to do. They also were invited to the Country Ball sponsored by St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, where they met Randy Owen, the lead singer of the group Alabama.” The Robinson family intends to continue their lives as normally as possible with more financial security.
The news of the Powerball has spread to the students and faculty of the York Suburban Senior High School. Mathematics teacher, Shane Jansen, purchased a total of three tickets as the jackpot started to rise. If he would have won the money, Jansen said, “I would probably give some of it to my brothers, because I wouldn’t want to be retired alone. Who would I play golf with?”
Others were not as interested in the participation of the lottery. Senior Madison Elliott said, “I would never buy lottery tickets, because I have never had any type of luck in my life.”
Elliott is 18 years old and is legally able to purchase Powerball tickets, but Senior CheyZae Carter, age 17, already developed a plan for his future winnings. Carter said, “I’m getting all my bros and were moving somewhere warm, probably Miami, with a pool. I am going to buy my mom a house and myself a Rolls-Royce. I will have mad clothes, mad shoes, mad jewelry, and mad…everything! I’m even going to have people wash my body for me. Oh, and can you pay to make yourself taller?”
From retirement funds to height extensions, the York Suburban Senior High School community conveys the message of America’s love for the lottery.