B. Raymond Buxton claimed his prize of $425.3 million at the California Lottery headquarters on April 1 after purchasing a Powerball lottery ticket in Milpitas, California. The Powerball jackpot is the largest jackpot ever won in California, the sixth largest jackpot in United States history, and the fourth largest Powerball jackpot of all time. Buxton, a retiree, bought his ticket at the Dixon Landing Chevron in Milpitas. The Dixon Landing Chevron received a $1 million dollar bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Buxton waited a month to claim his prize, purposely choosing to come forward on April 1 while wearing a shirt that read “Luck of the Jedi I Have” accompanied by a picture of the Star Wars character Yoda. However, the winner says that he had a reason for come not claiming his prize when the winning numbers were first announced, spending much of the month validating the numbers and planning for the future with a legal and financial team. Buxton decided to accept the cash version of the prize, with a sum of $242.2 million before federal taxes.
Buxton says he will use his money to organize a charitable foundation that focuses on pediatric health, child hunger, and education. He said that holding onto a ticket of such high value was scary at first and said he was amazed at how a slip of paper had, seemingly, changed his life. After realizing he had won, Buxton said, he was in shock for days.
Buxton looks forward to enjoying his winnings by giving back. The retiree, who could have spent the money on a new house or car, is eagerly looking forward to improving people’s lives and starting his new job creating his charity to help fight child hunger and promote pediatric health.
For more information about the lottery winner please visit http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Winner-of-425-M-Powerball-Lottery-Sold-in-Milipitas-Wants-to-Travel-Start-Charity-253452091.html.
