NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – It’s official: the Tennessee Lottery verified that John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, won one third of the record Powerball jackpot of $1.5 billion.
The Robinsons appeared on a morning network show in New York Friday morning with Memphis attorney Joe Townsend ahead of flying to Nashville to have their ticket verified.
During a news conference at the Tennessee Lottery’s offices, the couple said the first thing they plan to do is pay off their daughter’s student loans.
When asked if there is anything they plan to splurge on, the couple replied, “Nothing.
The Robinsons chose to take their winnings, $528.8 million, in a lump sum. They’re expected to receive their check in about 10 days.
Friends say John is an engineering consultant in Memphis, while Lisa works for a dermatologist, also in Memphis. Neither plans to quit their job and both said they will return to work Monday.
Those who know they couple say the Robinsons live “about a mile” from Naifeh’s Food Mart where the winning Powerball ticket was sold.
Back at Naifeh’s, one of the store’s owners handed out $50 bills Friday to employees “with more to come” from the $25,000 prize they got for selling the winning ticket.
Two other winning lottery tickets were sold in California and Florida. Those tickets have yet to be confirmed, but the winners will share the Powerball jackpot with the Robinsons and also receive $528.8 million either in annual payments over 30 years or as a lump sum.
