WASHINGTON — (CNN) A New Jersey family that bought a ticket to last week’s $429.6 million Powerball jackpot publicly announced they are the winners at a press conference Friday.
The Smith family — a mother and her seven adult children — said the family’s matriarch, Pearlie Smith, bought the winning ticket.
Valerie Arthur, one of her daughters, spoke on behalf of the family.
She explained that they felt it was important to educate themselves about how to handle their new winnings, so they’ve hired a team of lawyers and advisers.
“If it does change me I think it will change me for the better,” said Arthur. “I know you receive and you give. That is the rule.”
The family chose the lump sum of $284 million, which will be split evenly among them.
The jackpot is the sixth largest in U.S. history, and the largest in New Jersey to ever come from a single ticket.
After 18 drawings without a winner, the lucky numbers were drawn on May 7.
The store owner who sold the winning ticket also gets a windfall — $30,000 from the New Jersey lottery.
Some of that will be shared with 7-Eleven since the store is a franchise.
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