The Florida winner of the record breaking Powerball jackpot last month has finally come forward to claim their prize.
Long-time Melbourne Beach resident, Maureen Smith, 70, and her husband David Kaltschmidt, 50, claimed one-third of the $1.5 Billion jackpot Wednesday aT the Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee
Smith says she and her husband decided to take the winnings in a lump sum of $327.8 Million before tax.
Florida Lottery officials say the money will be deposited into a trust the couple set up, and typically takes a couple days to deposit.
Smith says she bought the winning ticket at the Publix in Melbourne Beach on A1A. She says she picked her numbers, and that when she rarely plays the lottery, she always plays the same numbers.
They didn't watch the live reading of the numbers, but instead, checked the ticket the next morning.
"I knew they were my numbers. I ran and looked online to make sure they were correct," Smith said.
"I checked the ticket and everything matched up, so, I said 'she's messing with me'," Kaltschmidt said.
The couple mastered the art of dodging the media, and keeping the news from their friends and family. "We just kept quiet. We just acted normal," Smith said. "We just told legal advice," Kaltschmidt added.
That also mean Kaltschmidt went right back to work the next morning. He says he's been an airplane manufacturing engineer for more than 30 years.
But the last month, preparing to accept their millions, hasn't been easy, they say. "We've lost a lot of sleep. A lot of sleep," Smith said. "I've lost over ten pounds. It's a lot of pacing at night," Kaltschmidt said. "You worry what's going to happen," Smith said.
"Im afraid it's going to make me less friendly because I will be worried," Smith said.
They're adding more security to their home.
But, they've also taken the time to make sure they're prepared to make the most of the winnings.
They said they plan to help family and people who are special to them. They also plan on being very charitable.
But, naturally, they're beginning to plan how the money will be spent on themselves. "My truck is about to fall apart so I do need a new vehicle," Kaltschmidt laughed.
"He will retire and that's what he really wanted to do."
Smith has yet to decide what she might splurge on. "I really don't know yet. I want to get a massage!"
Two other people in Tennessee and California have winning tickets. The Tennessee winner has come forward. The California winner has not come forward.
The Florida Lottery says more than $114 million dollars will also go toward a state education fund as a result of this record jackpot.
