BBC News Online: World: Americas

Lotto winners in 'state of shock'

The winners - who nicknamed themselves the "Lucky 13" when they started their syndicate at a tool manufacturing company in Columbus, Ohio - won big on odds of 80-million-to-one.

They each now stand to get about £12.4m.

It would have been even more, but they decided to take a one-off cheque instead of payment in instalments totalling $295m over 25 years.

The winning ticket is being kept in a safe deposit box until it is sent by armoured car to Indiana for verification.

'We are really getting nervous'

So far only one of the overnight millionaires has shed his anonymity to speak to the media.

John Jarrell said he and his fellow-winners were one "big happy family" and were nervous about their sudden fame.

"We are really getting nervous and scared about what we got to do with all of this," he said.

"We are ready to go shopping and get on with normal life as soon as all you people leave us alone."

Learning to say no

The winners have hired lawyer Larry Sturtz to represent their interests.

He said his new clients were in "a state of shock"; adding: "They're trying to figure out what to do with their lives."

Mr Sturtz said he warned them about securing good investment advice and avoiding the pitfalls of many who fritter away huge windfalls. His message to them was to "learn how to say no."

There are already signs that the syndicate winners will not let the money go to their heads. Barb Palmer, the accounting manager at the 170-worker factory where the machinists work, told reporters that nine of the 13 had said they planned to keep their jobs.

"We hope we don't lose any of them. This is a great team spirit organisation," he added.

Lottery madness

Powerball began as an attempt by a group of smaller US states to compete with fundraising lotteries held in large states.

Its popularity rocketed, and this week the excitement reached fever-pitch when the jackpot was pushed to new heights after no winner emerged from the draw on Saturday.

More than 210m tickets were sold in the four days leading up to the draw on Wednesday.

The winning syndicate were among the many residents of states where the lottery does not operate, who crossed state boundaries to buy their tickets.

In this section

Microsoft trial mediator appointed (From Business)
Safety chief deplores crash speculation
Taxman scoops a million (From Entertainment)
Violence greets Clinton visit
Bush outlines foreign policy
Boy held after US school shooting
Memorial for bonfire dead
Senate passes US budget
New constitution for Venezuela
North Korea expels US 'spy'
Hurricane Lenny abates
UN welcomes US paying dues
Chavez praises 'advanced' constitution
In pictures: Castro strikes out Chavez
WTO: arbitration in EU-Ecuador banana dispute
Colombian army chief says rebels defeated
Colombian president lambasts rebels