The Tennessee couple who bought one of the three grand prize-winning Powerball tickets plans to return to work on Monday. Because, well, "why not?"
Despite their newfound wealth-a $529 million prize-John and Lisa Robinson revealed few grand plans for the money at a Friday afternoon news conference. In response to question after question, the pair seemed determined to mostly continue living life as they always have.
When asked how they planned to spend the money, Lisa responded first: They would pay down their daughter's student loan debt.
But surely they planned to splurge on something, a reporter suggested. "My family," Lisa said.
Would they at least move into a big, new house?
"We don't need that," John said. "I've never wanted that in the past, I don't want that now," Lisa added.
They announced plans to return to work on Monday. Why?
"Why not?" Lisa asked back. "That's what we've done all our lives," John said.
The pair said on Friday that they plan to claim their share of the world record $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot in one lump sum, roughly $328 million after taxes-money won with a ticket bought on the final day of sales.
"I was on my way home from work that day-this was the 13th-and she told me, she said you've got to pick us up a couple of lottery tickets," John Robinson said. He wasn't feeling well, but he stopped at the store anyway. He picked up a few tickets, came home and put them on the table for his wife.
After the numbers were announced, Lisa Robinson was the first to realize they had won.
"I was running down the hallway screaming and crying," she said. She woke her husband out of a deep sleep to confirm that they indeed held a winning ticket. Once confirmed, John wasted little time reaching out to his eldest brother to seek out help in finding legal and financial professionals to work with.
"He does investments," John said simply.
Despite all of the hoopla, though, the Robinsons won't see most of their winnings for another 10 or so business days, lottery officials said. Money from ticket sales first have to filter back up to the organization that runs the game.
But don't worry. The Robinsons wouldn't leave empty-handed. The pair would be sent home with a check for a few million dollars, officials said.