Michigan store owners speak out on $842 million Powerball winner

May 2024 · 3 minute read

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The family that owns the small town store in Michigan where the winning $842 million Powerball ticket was sold doesn’t know who the mystery buyer is yet — but said “it’s rewarding” to know they helped a customer secure their fortune.

Jacob Nammoshi, whose father owns Food Castle grocery store in Grand Blanc, said they are hoping the new millionaire is a local.

“It’s rewarding,” Nammoshi, told The Post on Tuesday. “It’s the perfect spot.”

The store will receive $50,000 for selling the winning Powerball ticket once the prize is claimed, Jake Harris, Powerball’s Michigan spokesperson, told The Post Tuesday.

The reward is a predetermined amount set by the Michigan Lottery for MegaMillions and Powerball.

The small town of 8,000 — near Flint — has a “good community,” according to Nammoshi.

Nammoshi said the store first was notified of the winning sale after an employee arrived to work early and received a phone call.

The employee then called Nammoshi, who seemed overjoyed to hear the exciting news.

The store then posted the news on Facebook, writing: “WE SOLD THE WINNING POWERBALL TICKET.”

Bill Nannoshi is the owner of the Food Castle grocery store in Grand Blanc. ABC12.com
Although the mysterious winner of last night’s jackpot win hasn’t come forward, it was sold at Food Castle grocery store in Grand Blanc. Google St View
Nammoshi found out after an employee arrived at the store early and received a phone call, informing them that the winning ticket had been sold from there.

The last time the store saw a big winner was a few years ago when a local won $300,000.

Harris told The Post it is the largest jackpot ever won in Michigan and the state holds two of the Top 10 biggest jackpot winners. The other person won $1.05 billion through MegaMillions in January 2021.

The winner has a year to claim their prize.

The $842 million prize has a cash value of $425.2 million, according to the lottery.

The winning numbers were 12, 21, 42, 44, and 49 with a red Powerball of 1.

It is the first time someone hit the jackpot on New Year’s Day since the game’s inception in 1992 and the first time in 35 drawings that someone won the grand prize.

The $842 million prize has a cash value of $425.2 million. The winning numbers were 12, 21, 42, 44, and 49 with a red Powerball of 1. AFP via Getty Images

“What an incredible beginning to the New Year for Powerball!” Drew Svitko, a Powerball product group chair and Pennsylvania Lottery executive director, said in a statement.

The last person to win the jackpot was in October for a whopping $1.76 million.

The lottery’s next drawing on Jan. 3 reverts to the minimum grand prize of $20 million.

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