SALEM, Ore., Nov. 8, 2005
Four Share $340M Powerball Prize
Oregon Mom, Dad, Daughter, Son-In-Law Each Pooled Money For Jackpot
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The winners of the $340 million Powerball jackpot from left to right: Frances Chaney, Steve West, Carolyn West and Bob Chaney, sitting. (CBS)
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Lottery officials confirmed that Steve West, his wife, Carolyn, and his in-laws, Bob and Frances Chaney, held the winning ticket in Oct. 19 Powerball drawing. The two couples had gone in together on $40 worth of tickets.
They arrived at lottery headquarters to have the ticket verified and decide whether they wanted the money in an after-tax lump sum of $110 million, or 30 annual installments of about $7.6 million.
They will split the jackpot, lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann said.
Steve West is a 48-year self-employed businessman, and his wife is 47, Baumann said. Steve West said he plans to keep working to keep himself "grounded" and try to avoid the trappings of fame and wealth.
"We're gonna fight that," West said.
All four live in Southern Oregon.
Two days after the drawing, Steve West went on television to claim he and his relatives had the winning ticket. But it was up to the lottery to verify the claim.
The biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $363 million, won by two ticket holders in Illinois and Michigan in 2000.
Powerball is played in 27 states.
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