Advertisement

Man reveals bizarre way he picked winning $500m lotto numbers

A lucky Powerball winner has revealed how he chose his numbers that won him US$344.6 million (AU$494.3 million).

Charles W. Jackson Jr, from North Carolina, decided to play the numbers he found in a fortune cookie given to him by his granddaughter at a Vietnamese restaurant.

He initially thought he had won $50,000 (AU$72,000) but when the retired retail worker went to pick up his winnings, he discovered he had just become a multi-millionaire many times over.

"I said, 'Dang, I got them all'," Mr Jackson said at the North Carolina Lottery headquarters news conference on Tuesday (local time).

North Carolina lotto winner Charles W. Jackson Jr holds up his winning cheque.
Charles W. Jackson Jr. said he picked his Powerball numbers off of a fortune cookie. Source: WRAL

Mr Jackson chose to take the lump sum option of US$223 million (AU$320 million) and says after donating some to charity and buying his brother a car, he plans to take his wife to Vietnam for a holiday.

"I don't know what to do with it, I hope it don't change me a lot," the humble 66-year-old told WRAL news.

The instant multimillionaire said he also won’t let the new fortune change his wardrobe.

"I'm still going to wear my jeans — maybe newer ones," he laughed.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.