$842.4 Million Powerball Jackpot Winner Revealed as Michigan Lottery Group: 'Once-in-a-Lifetime'
"The Breakfast Club" claimed their prize five months after the winning Powerball ticket was announced, according to lottery officials
A Michigan lottery group found themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars richer after waiting five months to claim a life-changing Powerball prize.
Known as "The Breakfast Club," the group came forward to claim the $842.4 million prize, which is the largest Powerball jackpot in Michigan, Michigan Lottery officials said in a news release on Tuesday, June 11.
The winning numbers for the Jan. 1 drawing were 12-21-42-44-49 with the Powerball 01.
Related: Winning Powerball Jackpot Ticket Worth $1.3 Billion Sold in Oregon
Although identified as a three-person club by lottery officials, the group, which has chosen to keep their identities private, consists of a married couple and an attorney acting as their public representative, according to the Detroit Free Press.
While the state requires lottery winners to disclose their identities, the law does allow those who wish to remain anonymous the ability to form clubs and designate an attorney to claim the prize with the ability to protect the winner's privacy, the paper reported.
"As you can imagine, the club members have felt so many emotions since realizing their ticket was ‘the one,’” attorney Mark K. Harder said in a press conference, which was held at Food Castle of Grand Blanc, the grocery store that sold the winning ticket.
A day after the drawing, lottery officials said one winner saw the winning ticket had been sold at the grocery store on the news. Then, when he went to check the numbers on his cell phone, he "dropped his phone." But despite the win, he and his wife still went to their day jobs.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“They’ve been elated and overwhelmed, thrilled, and nervous," Harder said. "They’ve gone from shock and sleepless nights to giving careful thought as to how this once-in-a-lifetime event will transform their lives."
Related: Winning Powerball Jackpot Ticket Worth $1.765 Billion Sold in California
The unidentified winners released a statement through Harder explaining what they plan to do with their winnings, according to lottery officials.
“This prize will positively affect our family for generations to come," said one winner. "Up until now, we have led a comfortable life and anticipated retiring someday. Now, we’re not financially bound to a specific timetable. The world — and our opportunities — have opened up in some incredible ways. This has been life changing for us."
Lottery officials said the group would receive the prize via a one-time lump sum payment of about $425 million rather than annuity payments for the full amount.
After required income tax withholdings of 24% federal tax (about $102 million) and 4.25% state tax (about $18 million), the club received about $305 million.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.