Whopping Powerball Jackpot Won By Florida Woman

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A 61-year-old Florida woman has won a whopping Powerball jackpot, according to Florida Lottery officials.

Sheryll Goedert of Ocala claimed the $396.9 million prize from the Powerball drawing held on Jan. 29. Lottery officials identified Goedert as the managing member of Vacation Life LLC.

"The Vacation Life LLC chose to receive the winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment in the amount of $276,558,034.09," lottery officials said in announcing the jackpot winner on Tuesday.

Goedert purchased her lucky ticket from the 7-Eleven at 4520 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs, Florida. She did not immediately respond to an interview request.

"The retailer will receive a $100,000 bonus commission for selling the jackpot-winning Powerball ticket," lottery officials said.

Store manager Omar Obeissy told Patch this was the store's first big Powerball winner. He had hoped the winner would have been a local person who used part of the money to help Bonita Springs organizations. Ocala is about 240 miles away.

"It was a very exciting moment, almost more in shock,"Obeissy said. "You don’t expect it. I thought it was a prank call at first."

The owner of a Michigan company that is also called Vacation Life LLC, told Patch she plans to reach out to Goedert about her business name.

"I'm the owner, and I actually own the trademark and all the rights to the words 'Vacation Life' so if anybody is infringing on that, they'll get a cease and desist by Monday," the Michigan businesswoman told Patch.

Lottery officials said Florida is one of the top-selling Powerball states in the country with more than $5.1 billion in sales.

The next Powerball drawing is set for Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. eastern with an estimated jackpot of $110 million.