Tennessee Powerball winners: No big changes to lives

The Robinsons and their daughter hung out on the “Today” show set after their interview. The top prize, now at…

According to the Michigan Lottery Public Relations Division, 26 people across the state were winners of winning $50,000 tickets and five $1 million tickets were sold.

Balbir Atwal says he didn’t know the ticket was purchased at his store until he turned on the TV.

Florida lottery officials say the winning ticket in the record Powerball jackpot for that state was sold at a grocery store in Melbourne Beach.

“I still can’t breathe”, said 34-year-old Kathryn.

With his appearance on the “Today Show“, John, who is listed as an engineer at Logical Systems, expressed a bit of trepidation that everyone will now know of his fortune, thanks to the media.

“CNN banged on my door and said ‘did you know your neighbors were the Powerball winner?’ and I said ‘you have got to be kidding”.

Why pass up on a certain income totaling more than $200 million, he was asked?

“We’re going to take the lump sum, because we’re not guaranteed tomorrow”, said John Robinson.

A big chunk of the profits go to schools, though not enough to solve all their budget problems, officials said.

The jackpot drawing Wednesday night marked a record-setting day for the Tennessee Lottery, with $18.9 million in tickets sold, Hargrove said. Winners can claim their prize-winning tickets at any one of the Lottery’s Customer Service Centers statewide, including the Long Island office in Plainview or at Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens. MORE: Tennessee man won third of $1.6 billion PowerballIf someone does come forward, they won’t be allowed to stay anonymous, per state law.

Lisa called her boss from the Today show to explain that she wouldn’t be in – but assured them she’d be back to work by Monday. Now, before you throw your computer into the nearest fiery hellpit, there is the possibility that the family is just trying to protect her, as my colleague Caity Weaver suggests. They said the winner’s name will be made public once verified by the California Lottery.

The Robinsons appeared on national television earlier Friday to say they had won.

The couple’s son, Adam, is an electrician, and their daughter, Tiffany, lives nearby after graduating from college recently.

Lisa said the entire experience has been exciting but also overwhelming. The mother of two said she had always hoped for smaller jackpots when playing the lottery because she never sought out a lavish lifestyle in the past and “I don’t really want that now”. “I get a horse now”.

“I checked the ticket and saw that we won”, Kathryn told the Maryland Lottery.

Rebecca Hargrove, right, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery, announces that the winning Powerball ticket of the John and Lisa Robinson family is authentic Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.

The Robinsons did ask for privacy on Friday.

John said he pretended to be ill, so that Tiffany would come over with medicine.

Mary Sue’s husband, Roy Smith, called them “fine people”, dependable and hard-working. “He’s a civic-minded person, and he probably will remember the town”.

“They’re small town people who appreciate community, appreciate family values”.

He then consulted his brother, who works in finance and referred them to a financial advisor, who recommended a lawyer. “We lived in poverty, and our parents struggled to move us here and make sure we all got a good education”, the relative said.