I scooped a huge lotto jackpot without buying a ticket – but I only got half the $65million amount
A lottery winner has shared how she hit a $65 million jackpot — without even buying a ticket.
Nancy Viola hit it big when her husband tried his luck in the historic $1.6 billion Powerball draw in January.
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The housewife had told her husband, Vito Viola, to pick up Powerball tickets at the local deli.
After snagging his wife’s lottery ticket, he realized he had an extra dollar in his pocket and decided to play it in the Mega Millions.
The next day, Nancy was shocked when she saw the lottery ticket her husband had bought and realized they had won.
“I think I almost had a heart attack,” Nancy said, recalling the moment.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, so I asked my husband to come and have a look. He just looked at the screen three or four times and was shocked,” she added.
The couple split a lump sum payment of $64,796,160 before taxes and withholding between the pair — meaning Viola took half home.
They were able to keep the win a secret until last Thursday.
Vito was a police officer with the NYPD in Staten Island.
After his victory, he decided not to report for work again.
“I heard he took another job and I said, ‘I hope he makes a lot of money after he gives up his pension,'” claimed an officer who knew the officer.
The cop started laughing when he realized Vito had hit the jackpot.
“I guess he got a new job for a lot of money,” he told the publication.
Even her neighbor was surprised when she found out about the couple’s new wealth.
“You never said a word. I just found out while watching the news and I’m shaking,” said a neighbor.
Now that the news is out, the couple plan to be responsible with their money.
“I’ve thought about my plans and I want to make some investments and just be secure for the future,” Nancy said.
As of now, the money is held at The Orbity Fund LLC where it can be safely managed.