The Florida winners of the history-making Powerball Jackpot have finally came to the surface to claim their $1.58 billion prize.

Maureen Smith, 70, and David Kaltschmidt, 55, Long Island natives, who have lived in Melbourne Beach since 1991, made their claim more than a month after it was announced where the ticket was purchased.

 

The married couple has opted to take a lump sum of $327 million. Even after winning, they decided to keep it quiet and not tell families or friends. “We just kept quiet,” Smith said. “Just acted normal.”

The couple have no plans for the money yet other then Smith getting a massage and her husband retired and replacing his old work truck.

“It’s going to change my day-to-day life. Instead of designing airplanes, I’m gonna be doing, you know, charities and tax strategies and investments,” Kaltschmidt said.

The two have set up a trust called the Nickel 95 Trust to manage their winnings. They did express some negative effects they hope not to encounter. “I’m afraid it’s gonna make me less friendly, because I’ll be worried,” Smith said. “It’s scary and unknown. I mean, you always do think about what you’re gonna do, but when it happened, it’s like it all went out of my head. Just, I know I wanna help special people in my life.”

Leave a comment

Read more about: