53-year-old single mum of two, Mavis Wanczyk, who beat odds of one-in-292.2 million, immediately called her work to say she would not be returning, after winning $758.7 million ,the largest single win in American lottery history, making her richer than Beyonce and Taylor Swift combined.
Mavis, mother of a 31-year-old daughter and a 26-year-old son who works as a hospital cleric and from Chicopee, Massachusetts, found out about her win while on what turned out to be her last night shift at a hospital where she had been for more than 30 years. According to CBS news, Mavis she was with her colleague Rob when she checked her numbers.
She explained:
“And he’s reading these numbers and I pull mine out and I go ‘hey, I have that …’ and he goes ‘let me see that ticket,’ he goes, ‘you just won. I couldn’t do anything so he (Rob) followed me to make sure I made it home safely,’ she added. That’s how I found out, from him.”
When asked what she wants to do with all the money she has won, she said,
“The first thing I want to do is just sit back and relax and I had a pipe dream and my pipe dream has finally come true, I wanted to retire in 12 (years) and it came early. I’ve called work and told them I will not be coming back. I just want to be me and figure out what I want to do. I’m scared but I’ll be ok.”
The shop owner, Bob Bolduc, collected $50,000 (£39,000) for selling the winning ticket and is to give the money to charity. Mavis will now have to decide whether to take a lump sum or have her winnings paid out over 30 years. If she chooses the quick cash she will receive about $480.5 million as wins in America, are taxed.