Plant workers take jackpot
LINCOLN, Neb. – Two are immigrants from Vietnam. Another fled the war-torn Republic of Congo. All three came to the United States in search of a better life.
On Wednesday, the trio of immigrants stepped forward with five coworkers from a Nebraska meatpacking plant to claim the biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history – $365 million.
“This is great country!” said Quang Dao, 56, who arrived in the United States in 1988. He still has family in Vietnam and said he plans to help them financially with his winnings.
The seven men and one woman bought the winning Powerball ticket at a convenience store near the ConAgra ham processing plant where they worked.
The Nebraska workers had the option of taking the money in one lump sum or 30 annual installments. They chose the lump sum and will get $15.5 million each after taxes.
Alain Maboussou, 26, said he fled from the Congo in 1999 to escape unrest after the civil war there. He said he plans to quit work and return to school for a degree in business administration. The money will provide for his wife and baby daughter. “She’s going to be happy for the rest of her life,” he said of the 3-month-old.
Three of the group quit their jobs when they hit the jackpot. “I’ve been retired for about four days now,” said Eric Zornes, 40.