A Manhattan man came forward on Wednesday with the winning Powerball ticket to collect his jackpot of $343.9 million—the largest lottery prize ever in New York.
See Also: The Blackest Reactions To The Mega Millions Jackpot
“A family member gave me the numbers over 25 years ago and I faithfully play them. I buy my tickets at three or four different stores. It was raining that day so I went to the deli to get out of the rain and I bought my ticket there,” Robert Bailey said, referring to the West Harlem Deli where he purchased his lucky ticket, CBS News New York reported.
Baily, 67, is a retired federal employee. He elected to take a lump sum payment that amounts to just over $125 million after taxes.
The drawing took place on Oct. 27. However, Baily didn’t rush in coming forward because he wanted to contact a lawyer and financial adviser before claiming his prize.
“I’m gonna get a house, especially for my mother. God bless her, she’s still around. I definitely want to travel a little bit and hopefully I make some good investments that will work for me and my family,” he said.
Enjoy your winnings!
Here are some Twitter responses:
1.
Meet the winner of the biggest lottery jackpot in New York history https://t.co/1Gw4TxMGq5 pic.twitter.com/12g5mKFHbV
— Donald Eke (@DonaldRex) November 14, 2018
2.
The New York Lottery on Wednesday revealed the identity of the winner of the state's largest #lotto #jackpot in history.Robert Bailey bought the winning ticket at a West #Harlem Deli at 2040 5th & matched all 6 numbers in the October 27 drawing. #Powerballhttps://t.co/Dc1FlXn0Op pic.twitter.com/MpIGZ5ldAB
— DarnellTheNewsMan 🎙📹📰📻📺📸 (@DarnellNewsMan) November 14, 2018
3.
My new best friend! #Powerball winner, 67-year-old Robert Bailey, a retired federal employee from Harlem. Claiming his prize of $343.8 million. BTW..He played the same numbers religiously for over 25 years! and still playing!Net take? $125,396,690 #poweball #persistence 😱😱 💰 pic.twitter.com/LGItEjrPnS
— Stacey Sager (@staceysager7) November 14, 2018
4.
You da man! Robert Bailey. 💰😎 pic.twitter.com/oDGyRuT0bl
— Real Name (@Choogling) November 14, 2018
5.
Good for him. I’m next https://t.co/dybQTrvHss
— James_Whitfield (@James_Whitfield) November 14, 2018
6.
Meet Robert Bailey, the 67-year-old retired gov’t worker from #Harlem who just became the largest @newyorklottery jackpot winner! He will go home with $125,396,690 after taxes. pic.twitter.com/1neHMsqMeA
— Esha Ray (@ByEshaRay) November 14, 2018
7.
67-yr-old Robert Bailey of #Harlem is the winner of the largest jackpot in @newyorklottery history. The retired government employee is receiving half of that $687.8 million #Powerball jackpot Oct. 27. Says he played the same numbers a family member gave him 25 yrs ago. #1010WINS
— Samantha Liebman (@SamiLiebman) November 14, 2018
8.
Robert Bailey has been playing the same six lottery numbers for 25 years and plans to keep on doing it - even though his digits finally hit for a $343.8 million Powerball win, the largest in New York Lottery history.https://t.co/UiDDqgDSES
— news10nbc (@news10nbc) November 14, 2018
9.
Harlem man is largest lottery jackpot winner in New York state history https://t.co/xy0Mihw9Ww via @ashleydaysc
— Lothairo Smith (@justaman197153) November 14, 2018
10.
Congrats, Robert Bailey! He's the 67yo retired gov't worker from Harlem who bought one of the two winning Powerball tickets in late Oct. “It’s a good life changer,” he said. “I plan to do the right thing with the money.” That's $125.3 million after taxes!https://t.co/DHpl8h2Qrm
— The Curious Uptowner (@CuriousUptowner) November 14, 2018