Verified Powerball Winner Quotes

The real winner is the California public school system.

Prepared statement read by California Lottery Director - Castro did not attend the press conference

This is for a family that wants to move in... Those are the people that need to be looked out for right now.

First interview two years after winning, discussing rebuilding homes for LA wildfire victims

I'm happy for my family. But to myself, I'm in the middle of battling cancer, so I'm thinking, 'How am I going to have time to spend all this money?'

At the Oregon Lottery press conference, processing the irony of his fortune

God chose the numbers for me.

Revealing he wrote numbers 1-100 on paper, slept with it under his pillow, prayed for guidance

You don't have to go work now. We won the lottery. We won the jackpot.

Phone call to his friend Laiza Chao, who was driving to work when he called

I look at the first number, I see it... and I see that second number and my heart starts to pump and whatnot, and at that moment I'm like, 'No frickin' way.'

Describing the physiological shock of checking the numbers

I got that paranoia when you think the whole world is after you... I thought there was somebody behind me every single day.

Describing the days between the drawing and claiming the prize

I'm ready and I know how to say no.

Signaling he received legal coaching and was prepared for money requests

I'm going to go hide in my bed.

When asked how she planned to celebrate - highlighting overwhelming need for psychological shelter

I called and told them I will not be coming back.

Quitting her 32-year job at Mercy Medical Center - immediate and absolute resignation

My pipe dream came true.

Revealing that her family frequently played the lottery as a fantasy

I wish I had torn that ticket up.

The most famous quote in lottery history - spoken during the depths of personal tragedy

I have had to work for everything in my life... This is the first thing that's ever been given to me.

Spoken the morning after winning, when he was still optimistic

I'm only going to be remembered as the lunatic who won the lottery.

Five years post-win, expressing bitter regret that his legacy was erased

I can't even read them. I wouldn't have any money left if I did.

Referring to thousands of letters asking for money that filled his office

We're going to take the lump sum... because we're not guaranteed tomorrow.

Explaining the controversial decision to take $328M over $533M annuity

Big houses are nice. But also you gotta clean 'em.

When asked if they would move - deflecting with folksy logic

It literally knocked me to my knees... My prayer was simple - 'Lord have Mercy!'

Describing his physical reaction to realizing the win

I really believe the best way to prepare for this tsunami of cash has been to live under a vow of poverty for a number of years. It gives great perspective.

Framing his past asceticism as training for wealth

I quit automatically. I was done.

No hesitation - she quit immediately upon confirming the win in a McDonald's drive-thru

It's a nasty, dirty job. I don't want [my kids] to work the way I had to work.

Providing visceral details about her work environment

I want to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity and blessing me with this great fortune. I will not squander it.

Tying the money to stewardship and responsibility rather than luck

Ranching is a hard life, but if you love what you're doing, it's an easy life.

Years later when selling his expanded ranch - he doubled down on his lifestyle

I am going to turn this into a billion dollars.

Unique among winners for publicly stating a specific financial ROI goal

I had a chef for a while, but now I'm back to eating cheese straight from the fridge.

Illustrating the hedonic treadmill - humans return to baseline habits

I can't let money change me. I still want to be me. I'm going to keep doing the right thing.

Defensive assertion of identity against the transformative power of wealth

Red, red, red, red, red, jackpot.

Describing entering numbers into the lottery app - 'When you get numbers right, they show up in red.'

Get that ticket, get in your truck and get up here now... And drive slow.

Phone call to her sister who had the ticket - capturing the fragility of the physical ticket

I'm going to retire... buy a new truck.

Quintessential understated answer - the truck was his primary indulgence

My life has changed... It will not change my heart.

Standard humble winner quote - tested days later when sheriff's deputies arrived

He went from having all of this family and no money to having all of this money and no family.

Encapsulating isolation as financial requests strain familial bonds

[Scott] threatened to disinherit them.

From lawsuit MacKenzie filed against her own son regarding his investment strategies