December 28, 2002	Saturday	Shawwal 23, 1423

WASHINGTON, Dec 27: A 55-year-old millionaire president of a construction company on Thursday claimed the largest single- ticket lottery jackpot ever when he won America’s $314.9 Powerball game.

Andrew Jack Whittaker Jr. opted for a $170.5 million cash payout instead of $314.9 million paid out over 29 years. He is donating one-tenth of the windfall to three churches as his first outlay from the huge prize.

“I just want to thank God for letting me pick the right numbers — or letting the machine pick the right numbers,” said Whittaker, a resident of Scott Depot, West Virginia.

Whittaker said that after giving 10 per cent of his gross winnings to three Church of God pastors, he would share the rest with his family, perhaps expand his businesses — and maybe buy a helicopter.

Whittaker also said he wanted to use the money to find more work for his companies so he could put 25 employees who were laid off back to work.