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Jerry Heath, a U.S. Army veteran who waited several months to claim his $44.3 million Powerball jackpot prize, told ABC 7 that he plans to share his newfound wealth with his daughter and grandchildren, while having already paid off his home and investing some of his winnings.
“I can’t forget where I came from now that I’m a multimillionaire,” Heath said. “I don’t really travel; playing the lottery is my only luxury.”
Heath, who served six years in the Army before working as a detective with the Long Beach Police Department, finally claimed the lump-sum option of nearly $17 million for his August 19 lottery win following a lengthy vetting period.
“I felt great but I was so stressed about it,” Heath told ABC 7. “I am thankful. I am going to be a millionaire for the rest of my life.”
Lottery officials will vet any individual claiming to have a winning ticket, which includes conducting an investigation from the lottery's law enforcement team and cross-checking to make sure the winner doesn't owe the state any taxes or child support prior to making payments. California Lottery winners can receive their prize as early as four weeks, however, that rarely happens, according to Carolyn Becker, Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications for the California State Lottery.
“California Lottery processes, believe it or not, 10,000-plus claims a month, so we want to manage the expectations of our winners,” Becker said via ABC 7.