Winner of last week's $400M Powerball prize comes forward; SC man asks to remain anonymous

9/23/2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The winner of last week’s $400 million Powerball jackpot has claimed his prize, but the South Carolina man is asking to remain anonymous.

South Carolina lottery officials said the winner, from Columbia, presented the winning ticket today. Under state law, he does not have to release his name.

The lottery did give a few details about the winner. He stopped to get gas at the Murphy Express the day of the drawing last Wednesday and his wife told him to buy some hot dog buns. The store didn’t sell buns, but after seeing the $400 million prize advertised, the winner bought $20 in lottery tickets instead.

Lottery officials didn’t say if the man took the $399.4 million payout over 30 years or the direct cash option of $233 million.