Des Moines Dad Gifts Son His $50,000 Lottery Prize
Shawn Economaki Claims Powerball® Prize
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CLIVE, Iowa - A Des Moines man knew exactly what he wanted to do with his $50,000 Iowa Lottery prize.
"My wife said, 'What are you going to do with that money?'" Robert Economaki recalled. "I said, 'I'm going to give it to Shawn.'"
Their son, Shawn Economaki, said he was shocked when his father showed him the Powerball® ticket he bought at Price Chopper, 3425 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines.
"And then he really surprised me and said, 'Yes, and we want to give it to you,'" Shawn Economaki said. "I was obviously extremely appreciative."
Robert Economaki said giving the money away was an easy decision.
"I wanted to do something while I'm alive, for him. I think that's important," he said.
He matched four of five white balls and the Powerball in the April 16 drawing. The winning numbers were 20-24-42-43-49 and Powerball 19. Economaki was one number away from winning that night's $113.9 million jackpot.
The prize is still growing for tonight's drawing, with an estimated jackpot of $151 million.
Players in $2 Powerball choose their first five numbers from a pool of 69, and another number – called the Powerball – from a separate pool of 26. The Power Play option is available for an extra $1 per play.
Since getting its start in April 1992 in 15 states with jackpots that started at a guaranteed $2 million, Powerball has grown into one of the world's biggest and most recognizable lottery games. Today Powerball is played by 48 lotteries across the country with drawings at 9:59 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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