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South Dakota rancher wins $232 million jackpot
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-06 14:55

Wanless' father, Arlen Wanless, 54, has made a living in recent years mainly by buying and selling scrap metal, but his fortunes dropped with the price of iron, said Dan Clark, an auctioneer from Winner and a friend of more than two decades.

South Dakota rancher wins $232 million jackpot
An aerial view taken Thursday, June 4, 2009, shows the buildings at Neal Wanless's family ranch near Mission, S.D. Wanless, a 23-year-old rancher whose family has fallen behind in their taxes and recently had a mobile home repossessed, claimed a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot Friday, June 5, 2009. [Agencies]
The younger Wanless told lottery officials that he spent the last week working on the ranch and that he intends to continue that lifestyle, albeit on a larger piece of land. According to lottery officials, he recently told his horse, Eleanor, "It'd be nice if we go for a longer ride than usual on a bigger ranch of our own."

"My family has been helped by the community, and I intend to repay that help many times over," Wanless said. He gave no details.

An Oregon family turned $40 worth of tickets into $340 million Powerball prize in 2005, and at least four other winners collected larger jackpots than Wanless' prize.

The store where Wanless bought the winning ticket will get a $50,000 bonus. Sharon Ulmer, manager of the store, said she is glad the Wanless family won.

"From what I understand they don't have a lot, so the money definitely went to a good place," Ulmer said. "I know it went to a good home. They can use it."