A Tennessee couple won a record-breaking $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016. They claimed their prize on the TODAY show before visiting the state lottery office. The jackpot was the second-highest in Powerball history.
A lucky resident of Arkansas recently won the second-highest Powerball jackpot in history and almost 10 years ago two Tennessee residents won one of Powerball's record-breaking jackpots. The jackpot worth 1.817 billion with a cash prize of 834.9 million was won on Dec. 24 just a few months after the 1.787 billion grand prize in September. This win came almost exactly 10 years after two lucky residents in the neighboring state of Tennessee won what was then a record-breaking jackpot on Jan. 13 2016 and claimed their prize on the TODAY show before going to the state lottery office in Nashville. Here's what to know about the historic 1.586 billion Powerball jackpot and how one couple spent their prize money. On Jan. 11 2016 Powerball broke records when its jackpot reached 1.4 billion after no winners matched the numbers in the Jan. 9 drawing of 949 million. Just two days later on Jan. 13 three tickets won a historic 1.586 billion by matching all six numbers. The jackpot started at 40 million on Nov. 4 2015 and rolled over nearly 30 times before being won on Jan. 13 2016. The grand prize was claimed by Marvin and Mae Acosta from California John and Lisa Robinson from Munford Tennessee and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach Florida. The winning numbers were 4-8-19-27-34 and the Powerball was 10. The historic 1.586 billion Powerball drawing occurred on Jan. 13 2016. Shortly after lottery officials announced that three tickets from different states would share the prize. On Jan. 15 John and Lisa Robinson from Munford Tennessee appeared on NBCs TODAY show with Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly to claim their winnings before visiting the Tennessee Lottery office. In Tennessee large prize winners must present themselves at the lottery headquarters within 180 days. The Robinsons decided to contact TODAY to share their story while maintaining some privacy. Their lawyer Joe Townsend advised them to go on national television before presenting the lottery ticket to officials to help control the narrative. He and his daughter Ilene joined the Robinsons on the show. During the interview there was skepticism about the authenticity of the winning ticket. In the segment Guthrie introduced the Robinsons as the lucky couple who claimed to be holding the winning ticket. Guthrie asks Can we see that ticket? Keeping it nice and close to your heart she says as John Robinson extracts the ticket from his shirt pocket. Guthrie noted that the Robinsons couldn't be officially verified as lottery winners because they hadn't visited their state's lottery headquarters. Although producers confirmed their backgrounds Guthrie emphasized that it's not official yet. She then asked the couple Why 'TODAY' show first? John Robinson then pointed to his lawyer Joe Townsend. I think the American public wants to hear from them and even though they want to be private after this is over they want to you know let the public know that they're the winners Townsend replied. Guthrie reiterated several times in the interview that the Robinsons contacted the TODAY show It's kind of interesting how you found us we didn't find you you found us. John and Lisa Robinson from Munford Tennessee claimed their share of the record 1.586 billion jackpot two days after the drawing appearing on the TODAY show. With their daughter Tiffany and rescue dog Abby they requested privacy during a press conference at the Tennessee Lottery headquarters on Jan. 15 2016 stating they're common folk from a small town. John and Lisa Robinson chose a lump sum payment of just over 327 million before taxes despite posing with a 528.8 million check from the Tennessee Lottery. They received a few million dollars right away and were set to get the rest about ten days later. Initially the name of the store where the winning ticket was sold was announced before the winning couple came forward. Naifeh's Food Market a grocery store in Tipton County just north of Memphis sold what turned out to be a third of the record-setting 1.5 billion Powerball jackpot. Since Naifeh's sold the winning ticket the store was awarded a 25 000 bonus check as a retailer commission. The Naifehs the family who owns and runs the store said they would share some of the 25 000 bonus with the store's 50 employees. During the same winning cycle the Tennessee Lottery says there was also one 2 million winner in Dyersburg one 100 000 winner and 17 50 000 winners but it released no information about where those tickets were sold. Lisa Robinson an employee at a dermatologist's office informed her supervisor that she would not be coming in on January 15 and suggested watching the TODAY show on NBC. She also stated that she and her husband had no plans to quit their jobs. Asked why they planned to continue working Lisa said quickly Why not! the Commercial Appeal reported. Her husband added Thats what weve done all our lives is work. You just cant sit down lay down and not do nothing anymore. How long are you going to last? The couple said one of their priorities was to pay off their daughter's student loans a home loan and several other bills. They also would like to splurge on family members. According to a 2019 story from Fox 13 Memphis a tax assessor confirmed the Robinsons bought a 10-bedroom home on a 320-acre lot with a private lake. The property cost them 6.2 million and it includes rural Tennessee's finest views a private home theater and eight bathrooms according to the property's listing on Trulia. Fox 13 reported the Robinsons cut ties with the attorney that encouraged them to thrust their earnings into the public eye shortly after collecting the check. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jordan.greencommercialappeal.com