Powerball winner claims $400M, chooses to remain anonymous

Powerball winner claims $400M, chooses to remain anonymous

Powerball winner claims $400M, chooses to remain anonymous, The single winner of last week's $400 million Powerball ticket came forward in South Carolina to claim his prize, lottery officials have confirmed.

However, the new millionaire has decided to remain anonymous.

According to South Carolina lottery officials, the winner is from the Columbia, S.C. area and this was only the second time he's ever played the lottery.

The winner told officials he purchased the ticket after stopping for gas at the Murphy Express last Wednesday in Lexington, S.C. He explained that he only went inside the store because his wife wanted him to get hot dog buns.

Though the store didn't have buns, the trip wasn't exactly a waste of his time. The man said he decided to purchase $20 worth of lottery tickets after noticing the swelling Powerball jackpot.

The winning numbers were 7, 10, 22, 32, 35 and Powerball 19.

Officials wouldn't say if the man took the $223 million lump sum or the 29-year annuity.

Powerball ticket prices doubled from $1 to $2 in January 2012. The lottery game is played in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to Powerball's website, the odds of matching all six numbers are about 1 in 175 million.