Card Player – On April Fool’s Day, a California man wearing a Star Wars t-shirt claimed a $425 million Powerball win. He had waited nearly six weeks before claiming it, according to reports.
B. Raymond Buxton reportedly hired an attorney and a public relations firm to help him with his new-found wealth, before even grabbing the top prize. Doing so is advised by lottery officials, however. Buxton, a retiree, declined interviews and hid behind the check when lottery photos were taken.
He was in line getting some Subway at a gas station when deciding that another $2 investment for a lotto ticket was worth it since the prize was so massive. The second ticket was the one. It was the largest ever won in California, according to lottery officials. The 59-year-old Buxton decided to take the lump sum of $242.2 million, pre-taxes.
“Sitting on a ticket of this value was very scary,” he said via a statement. “It’s amazing how a little slip of paper can change your life. I’m going to enjoy my new job setting up a charitable foundation focused on the areas of pediatric health, child hunger and education.” Buxton’s hit is the fourth largest Powerball of all-time, and sixth largest in lottery history.
