No big deal, says €192m lottery winner

A retired truck driver claimed a €192m Mega Millions jackpot, calling the second largest single-ticket lottery pay out in history “no big thing to me”.

JR Triplett said he bought five tickets at a store a few miles from his home in Richmond, Virginia, and told his wife, Peggy, the day after the draw: “Sweetheart, I’ve got those numbers.

“Then she got down on her knees and thanked the Lord.”

A Virginia Lottery official said the winning April Fool’s Day claim had been verified.

“The ticket is good. Everything is cool,” Ed Scarborough said.

The Mega Millions jackpot is the world’s second-largest single-ticket lottery win. Jack Whittaker of West Virginia won a €255m Powerball jackpot at Christmas 2002.

Despite his wife’s excitement, Mr Triplett said: “It didn’t excite me all that much. It’s no big thing to me.”

He can take his €192m in 26 annual payments or a lump sum of €114m before taxes.