NEW YORK — A truck driver from Brooklyn has come forward as the winner of the second-largest Powerball jackpot in New York Lottery history.
David Johnson, 56, won the Dec. 26 drawing for the $298.3 million jackpot and has already quit his job to start enjoying an early retirement.
He opted to take a single lump sum payment of $180,227,550 which equals $114,091,248 after taxes. Johnson received his winnings on Friday at Resorts World Casino in Queens.
Johnson worked across the street from Arnold's Service Station on Linden Boulevard where he bought the winning ticket for $5. He said he didn't realize he had won the jackpot until he was alerted by a co-worker.
"A friend of mine, a next driver for the company, called me and said 'Hey Dave! Somebody won the Powerball by the gas station,'" Johnson said. "I turned to myself I said, 'Aw that's not me man, that's not my luck.'"
He still didn't check his ticket until his friend called him a second time urging him to do so. He didn't realize he'd actually won until two days later on his way to work.
"I went to the store and gave the ticket to the clerk to check. He scanned it and said 'Congratulations,' I needed to see it for myself, so I scanned and saw it read BIG WINNER," Johnson said.
He jumped up and down in the store when it finally sank in that he was the big winner. Now he has an attorney who will help him invest the money and take care of his family.
But he's going to have some fun too. Johnson said he will finally buy the red Porsche he's always wanted "so everyone can see me when I drive on the street."
His win marks the third consecutive Powerball jackpot win by a New Yorker in 2018.



Congrats! Just saw the story on ABC World News Tonight. Enjoy your retirement.
Mr. Johnson enjoy that Red Porsche. Congrats!
298M to 114M
NY tax including city is a whopping 37 percent
I used to live in Queens in the 90s, and I know exactly where Linden Boulevard is. Good for him!
Why Porsche? Go for Bugatti
Congrats to Dave Johnson! He might be accompanied by 2 others in his area who joined the same club as he did recently. That may not be all, either!
He wants to buy a red Porsche so "everybody can see him"?!!
. I guess he never heard of the lottery curse, and it's thinking like that that helps to manifest it into reality. He should be buying the car to enjoy it, not so to want to draw attention.
The 298M was the annuity. He took the cash value, which was 180M. After taxes he received 114M.
I know...I wonder why choosing the cash removes so many millions ? Where do those millions go if you choose cash and why ? Why the advertisement says 298M ? Also why the Check also says 298 M? Also I wonder why it doesn't say "Only" after the amount written in words in the check
Another lottery winner who was forced to check his ticket by a friend/family member.
The $298 mil is the annuitized value of the jackpot if he was to take it in annual payments. The lower amount represent the amount of cash that would have been invested on his behalf to generate the annuity payments.
Nothing happened to the deference in the amounts since the interest hasn't been earned yet.
Difference Between Cash Value and Annuity
Need200k,
Taking the cash doesn't remove anything.
The advertised jackpot amount is if a winner opts for the anniity
from the power ball website;
Jackpot winners can either select their prize as an annuity or a lump-sum payment.
If the annuity option is selected, the winner is guaranteed to receive 30 graduated payments over 29 years.
The annual payments increase by 5% until the 30th and final payment.
The 30 payments added up equal the value of the annuity.
The current power ball jackpot is $161 million, but that $161 million doesn't exist, that's what a winner taking the annuity would get spread over 29 years.
That's why the cash amount is always less than the advertised jackpot.
Teh current PB jackpot is $11 million, cash value $96,800,800
From USA MEGA
Powerball Jackpot for Sat, Jan 26, 2019
$161,000,000
$96,800,000
H e received $114 mil after taxes withheld, but will still owe more taxes come April 15, 2020.
Maybach. Personally Aston Martin is my favorite. But all the racers know Porsche is the best.
If I had the money though I’d get an all original to every detail ‘68 Charger. Bullitt.
Always has been. Always will be.
He needs to buy a penthouse high up in the sky and have personal bodyguards outside the door and with him everywhere to prevent the lottery curse. And of course, not spend it all at once.
That's why I say this game is a fraud, and no one should play it. They advertise a jackpot that you don't win. You win about 60% of that.
Barf at the thought of the Bullit charger, surprised you wouldn't have gone for the charger from the original fast and furious movie jejejeje
as for me, I'd of latched on to the first Porsche 959 that would've presented it's self jejejeje
of course I could learn to love the earlier targa 911 jejejeje
Too late the curse of the lottery already got the poor sucker
too lazy to check for self online and letting a clerk check his ticket for him
If this guy wants to be a braggart with his wealth, this blessing is going to quickly flip on him. The key to asset protection is making sure as few people know you have assets worth trying to take. The powerball winner Jake Whittaker comes to mind. The guy should enjoy his new found wealth, but he needs to be smart about it and not try to "impress people" with it.
Yessss yardie. Gods blessing on your life. Amen.
So many horror stories comes to mind most recently a guyanes worker From my job who won a Jackpot game
was murdered on holiday back in his country. Lord Jesus.
Lottery curse exist?! Take the money and Just disappear folks.
PV (Present Value of Money) vs FV (Future Value of Money)
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/082703.asp
Wow interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats to the winner
Just imagine how much the advertised annuity jackpot would be if they increased the amount of payments from 30 to 35 or 40.
Most of us on Lottery Post know the deference between annuity and cash lump sum, but when people who don't usually play see those high numbers, they feel they must buy a ticket. That's when the frenzy begins.
It's all part of the lottery's BIG plan.
Hey blood I think I got the lotto, yo. check dis. ticket fo. me. Beep, nah sorry bro. yo. lost again.
It's all about Human Behavior and getting you to part with your Money!