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Georgia Man Claims $270 Million Lottery Jackpot

Posted: 5:48 am EST February 23, 2008Updated: 5:12 pm EST February 23, 2008

A small Georgia town is buzzing with activity today after Georgia Lottery officials said the winning ticket to the $270 million Mega Millions drawing was purchased at a convenience store there.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the lucky winner is Robert Harris, a father of two who, up until Friday night, was living in a mobile home with his wife and kids and drove into Atlanta everyday to work on skyscrapers.

Harris was quick to tell the paper, “that’s about to change. I used to live in a trailer. And I used to be an iron worker.”

Georgia Lottery spokeswoman Tandi Reddick says the winning ticket from last night's drawing was bought at Flash Foods 70 in Portal, Georgia, about 60 miles northwest of Savannah.

Billy Hodges, general manager of Clyde's Market 70, which he says formerly was called Flash Foods 70, says the town is very excited.

Hodges says a regular customer who he described as a middle aged housewife bought the ticket on Friday before the evening drawing. He said the ticket was purchased for the woman's family.

The Georgia Lottery has not yet confirmed a winner because the winning ticket must be presented for verification and the lottery offices are closed until Monday.

Under the cash option, the winner would receive a lump sum of $164 million. Under the lottery's annuity option, the winner would receive about $10.3 million a year for 26 years.

In addition to the grand prize winner, 36 players matched all five numbers but not the Mega Ball number. They will receive second prizes of $250,000 each.

Another 207 players matched four numbers, plus the Mega Ball number -- good for third prizes of $10,000 each.

Six California players matched five numbers, and another 38 matched four of the five lotto numbers, plus the Mega Ball number. The prize amounts in California are different than what prize winners in the other Mega Ball participating states would receive.

The next drawing -- worth $12 million -- will be Tuesday. And, you can see it live right here on WSB-TV at 10:59 p.m.

The winning numbers from Friday night's drawing were: 7, 12, 13, 19 and 22. The Mega Ball number was 10.

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