US News
By Nicholas McEntyre
Published March 16, 2024, 1:14 a.m. ET
A California resident, Theodorus Struyck, has become a billionaire overnight by winning Powerball’s second largest jackpot, a hefty amount of $1.765 billion. This monumental victory was announced five months after the lottery draw.
Living in a serene, mountain town of Frazier Park in California, Struyck is a respected 65-year-old resident who purchased the astronomical-lottery ticket from a local market. Known to be an affable man often seen relishing time with his grandchildren, he is now the member of an affluent group that claimed this colossal fortune. The group now stands at a pivotal crossroads, as they deliberate between taking the full sum of $1.765 billion in 30 payments over 29 years or opting for a one-time cash sum payment of $774.1 million.
They won the huge prize by selecting the lucky numbers 22, 24, 40, 52, 64, and the red Powerball 10. Despite the staggering odds of 1 in 292,201,338, luck favored this group, enabling them to bag this windfall.
What excites the community even more is the fact that their local store, Midway Market, has also earned a reward of $1 million for selling the winning ticket. This victory brought prosperity to the whole town and has made Frazier Park a part of lottery history.
Struyck’s triumphant win showcases how an ordinary man’s life can be turned upside down by a stroke of luck and the power of the lottery.
Notes for ESL Learners:
1. Hefty: Slang term meaning large or heavy. Generally used to describe a large amount or size.
2. Monumental: Something that is very significant or important.
3. Affable: Describes a person who is easy to talk to and friendly.
4. Colossal: Describing something as extremely large.
5. Pivotal: Critical importance in the potential success or failure of something.
Vocabulary List:
- Windfall (noun): An unexpected financial gainoften a large amount of money.
- Accolade (noun): An award or expression of praise.
- Respected (adjective): Regarded with admiration and esteem.
- Deliberate (verb): To carefully consider or discuss.
- Affluent (adjective): Having a great deal of money wealthy.
- Prosperity (noun): The state of being successfulespecially in terms of financial well-being.
