TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Land O’ Lakes, Florida man won a massive $235.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Thomas Yi, 23, claimed the huge prize from the Powerball drawing held on March 27, 2021, at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment of $160,038,447.27.
“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.
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. Yi is the youngest player in Florida Lottery history to claim a Powerball jackpot prize.
Yi purchased his jackpot-winning ticket from a Publix super market located at 16560 North Nebraska Avenue in Lutz. The retailer will receive a $95,000 bonus commission for selling the jackpot-winning Powerball ticket.
The next Powerball drawing will be held Saturday, April 17 with an estimated $79 million jackpot.