COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A retired South Carolina man won the $259.9 million Powerball jackpot, but said Tuesday it won't go to his head.
Solomon Jackson Jr., one of 12 children and a former assistant supervisor at the state Department of Revenue, refused to give his age or even say whether he would take the money in a reduced immediate payment or spread out in a 30-year annuity during a news conference in Columbia, USA Today reported.
Jackson said he bought the winning ticket at a Murphy USA gas station in front of a Columbia-area Wal-mart Aug. 19 -- he bought the ticket there because he loves Wal-mart's prices and knew he could save 3 cents on a gallon of gas, the newspaper reported.
Even after he learned early Tuesday he had won the jackpot he said he helped mow a neighbor's grass because her father had recently died, and drove out to a Columbia suburb to get a bargain $35 car alignment.
During his news conference, Jackson thanked God repeatedly and said, "Too many people let this go to their head. ... I vow and promise everybody here ... this won't go to my head."
"I won't do a bunch with it, but somebody's going to be blessed," he said. "Some winners anticipate a change. But I'll still be Solomon," the newspaper reported.
Wednesday's jackpot was the largest ever won in the state, USA Today said.
The winning numbers were 14, 24, 31, 43 and 51, the Powerball was 27 and the multiplier was 5, the newspaper said.
