$422m Powerball jackpot winner validates ticket

PASSAIC, New Jersey (AP) - A 44-year-old man is the winner of a U$338 million (S$422 million) Powerball jackpot in the United States (US), and he's telling reporters in Spanish that he's "very happy".

Several media outlets were at the New Jersey liquor store, where the ticket was sold, on Monday when Pedro Quezada entered. They report that the store owner validated Quezada's ticket as a winner.

The New Jersey Lottery confirmed that the winning ticket was validated at the store.

A lump sum payout would be US$221 million, or about US$152 million after taxes.

Quezada told reporters that his first priority will be helping his family.

Powerball is played in 42 states, Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. The chance of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is about 1 in 175 million.

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