Harlem Powerball winner of $343 million played same numbers for 25 years ‘I was blessed’
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The winner of one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever has come forward to claim his windfall and says he plans to blow some of it in Vegas.
—Vintage video shows young Andrew Gillum speaking about 2002 Florida recount—
At the top of 67-year-old Robert Bailey’s list is a trip to Vegas to gamble and the retired government worker’s got plenty of time and money to live out his wildest dreams after claiming half of the $688 million jackpot in NYC, the NY Daily News reports.
The Harlem native said he’s been playing the same numbers for years and he bought two tickets from the West Harlem Deli on Fifth Ave. at 126th St. on a whim.
“I was taking care of a friend,” he told reporters at Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens, Wednesday. “I jumped out of the car because it was raining, ran in there, played my numbers and ran out.”
“A family member gave me the numbers over 25 years ago and I faithfully play them,” he said.
Those numbers proved to be priceless, so to speak.
After taxes Bailey walked away with $125.3 million — the fourth-largest payoff in U.S. history and the top win ever in New York State.
“I was watching regular college football,” he recalled. “Around 11:30 at night I checked my numbers online. When I saw the 8 and the 12, I was shocked. I didn’t notice the Powerball right away.
“Sure enough, I was blessed. I was just in shock,” he added.
“I stayed up all night and waited to see how many people were going to win,” he said. “I noticed I was one of two winners, the other was in Iowa.”
While there’s a superstition that says lottery winners end up broke in a few short years, Bailey does have plans to take some of his winnings to gamble in Sin City, he said.
—Black teen racially profiled during class assignment on, well, racism—
But he also said he plans to buy his mother a new home.
“God bless, she’s still around,” he said, noting the house would be somewhere in New York State or down south. “I haven’t decided yet. Hopefully I make good investments that will work for me and my family.”
Bailey didn’t just jump out and claim his prize, though. He went to “see a lawyer and a financial adviser to get some advice.”
Bailey, is a single man and his plans include ensuring that his children are well taken care of.
“I want to do the right thing and take care of the next generation in my family,” he said.
Lightning has struck twice for Bailey. Once before he scored $30,000 playing the same lucky numbers on a Take 5 ticket.
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