14 August 2023 , 13:41
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Through three drawings over the course of a week, John and Lisa Robinson watched their TVs with bated breath, hoping the numbers would match their Powerball ticket.
Then, on January 13, 2016, they did. They checked their ticket, then checked it again and again, but they still couldn't believe their eyes — they, along with two other families with matching tickets, had just won a portion of the second-highest jackpot in history.
The Robinsons didn't immediately head into the Tennessee Lottery headquarters to claim their $528.8million (£416.5million) prize, however. Instead, they made a strange appearance on the 'Today' show to announce their winnings at the behest of their lawyer, who appeared with them, bringing along his daughter.
At the time, their lawyer, Joe Townsend, told 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie: "I think the American public wants to hear from them, and even though they want to be private after this is over, they want to, you know, let the public know that they're the winners."
John and Lisa Robinson appeared on the 'Today' show after taking home a $528.8million prize in 2016 as part of a massive $1.586billion Powerball jackpot (TODAY)The Robinsons' appearance on the morning segment of the show was somewhat awkward, and Guthrie constantly reminded viewers that the Munford, Tennessee, residents had not yet claimed their earnings and also that they had reached out to the 'Today' show, not the other way around.
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Hours after appearing on the show on January 15, the couple went into lottery headquarters to claim their money, making yet another public appearance in the form of a press conference as they did.
The Robinsons' home in Munford, Tennessee, which they paid of with their earnings (AP)During the press conference, the couple asked for privacy, emphasising that they're "common folk from a small town." The population of Munford, which is about 30 miles (48.3km) northeast of Memphis, is approximately 6,000.
After taxes, the Robinsons took home a total of $327million (£260million). The total jackpot, which was shared by Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida, and Mae and Marvin Acosta from California, was worth a total of $1.6billion (£1.25billion).
The couple planned to pay off their daughter's student loans, a home loan and a few other bills, then splurge on family members with the money. They also purchased a $6.2million (£4.9million) 10-bedroom, eight-bathroom home with a private lake, home theatre, and other amenities but have largely kept out of the eye of the public.
The Robinsons went to collect their earnings hours after appearing on the 'Today' show (AP)Following their appearance on the 'Today' show, the Robinsons allegedly "cut ties with the attorney that encouraged them to thrust their earnings into the public eye shortly after collecting the check," reported Fox 13 Memphis.
The store that sold the ticket, Naifeh's Food Market, received a $25,000 (£20,000) check from the Tennessee Lottery for selling one of the winning tickets.
Now, a Florida resident is preparing to take home the historic Mega Millions jackpot worth $1.5 billion (£1.18 billion) and must consider what they'll do with the money. Will they follow the same path as the Robinsons or forge their own?