U.S.

Powerball Win Almost Wasn't

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

June 30, 1999 / 3:22 PM EDT / CBS

Powerball winner and multi-millionaire Farrah Slad said her parents invited her over Wednesday night and she almost decided not to go, reports CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston.

Slad said, Â"For some reason, I just said, Â'Sure, IÂ'll come on over.Â'Â"

On her way to her parentsÂ' house, her car ran low on gas and while she filled up, she bought some Powerball tickets.

Â"I happened to be at the right place at the right time,Â" Slad said.

Slad Â— the only winner of the third-largest Powerball jackpot ever Â— planned to go back to her $9-an-hour job Friday even after winning a staggering $150 million Powerball jackpot. She took her earnings in a lump sum of $78 million. After taxes, she gets to keep $50 million.
Â"IÂ'm tired. IÂ'm excited. Words canÂ't describe how I feel,Â" Slad told CBS This Morning.

When Slad first saw the winning numbers on her ticket, she didnÂ't believe it.

Â"I thought I was dreaming. I couldnÂ't believe that it was real, that it could happen to me,Â" Slad said.

She said her father had to convince her that she had won.

Â"We all looked at each other. We were so stunned and shocked,Â" Slad recalled. Â"It took a long time for us to show some sort of emotion. We were jumping up and down and laughing. We didnÂ't know what to do.Â"

Now, her parents will be among the first beneficiaries of her good fortune.

Â"They have given so much to me Â— IÂ'm going to give back to them,Â" Slad said of her parents. Â"Get them their dream home they have been wanting, and trucks, and boats, you know, everything else.Â"

Not that sheÂ'll neglect herself.

Â"I want to buy a car,Â" Slad said. Â"I have always had old cars and I just want to get a new car that IÂ've seen around here, you know, match everybody. Maybe even a little bit better.Â"

Slad also said she has always wanted to travel.

Â"I guess IÂ'm going to see a travel agent,Â" Slad said. Â"See what they have to offer.Â"

She said she isnÂ't married and her phone has been ringing off the hook.

Â"I havenÂ't had any [marriage] proposals, but I have had a few guys call and leave messages at my house,Â" Slad said. Â"I have been getting lots of phone calls from people in other states, people I havenÂ't talked to in a long time.Â"

Powerball is played in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

Edward Stanek, the Iowa State lottery commissioner and co-founder of Powerball, said the odds of hitting the jackpot were about one in 80 million.