Florida woman, 84, claims $590M Powerball win

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An 84-year-old woman who bought her Powerball ticket after another customer let her get ahead in line claimed a $590-million jackpot Wednesday, becoming the largest sole lottery winner in U.S. history.

Gloria C. Mackenzie, of Zephyrhills, Fla., where the ticket was sold May 18, took a single lump-sum payment of just over $370 million, Florida Lottery officials said. After taxes, she takes home about $270 million, officials said.

She did not speak to a crowd of reporters outside lottery headquarters, leaving quickly in a silver Ford Focus with her son, Scott Mackenzie, and family friends. She was accompanied by two unidentified lawyers, who left in a separate car.

MacKenzie bought the winning ticket at a Publix supermarket in her town of about 13,300 people located 30 miles northeast of Tampa.

In a statement read by lottery officials, Mackenzie said she bought the ticket after another buyer "was kind enough to let me go ahead in line to purchase the winning ticket."

Neighbors outside MacKenzie's modest duplex across from a cow pasture were surprised and said she had never mentioned her big win. -- AP