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Home · News

Congrats! New Jersey Family of Eight Wins $429 Million Powerball

It's the sixth largest jackpot in Powerball history.
Congrats! New Jersey Family of Eight Wins $429 Million Powerball
AP Photo/Mel Evans
By Taylor Lewis · Updated October 27, 2020

A New Jersey family has reason to celebrate this weekend!

NBC News reports that 70-year-old Pearlie Smith and her seven children were the winners of a $429.6 million Powerball—the sixth largest jackpot in Powerball history.

#BlackGirlMagic! Baltimore Woman Wins International Environmental Prize for Helping Her Community

“It was like an affirmation from God because we each have dreams we want to fulfill in our life…and it was like we have been funded to do that,” daughter Valerie Arthur said at a press conference.

Smith echoed that sentiment, saying that the win was an act of divine intervention, explaining that they chose the winning numbers because of a dream that some of them had. No other winners were identified, and the family has opted to take the money as a lump sum.

Meet the Young Woman Whose Debut Film Won ESSENCE’s 2016 Short Film Contest

So what is the family going to do with their newfound fortune? The children have said that they want to pay off student loan debts, and they also want to give back to their community (one of the daughters has a mentoring foundation). 

And as for Smith? She’s going to take a long vacay and figure out the rest later. Sounds like a plan. 

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