Powerball winner Donald Larson of Lapeer with his mother (Credit: MyFox Detroit)
LANSING, Mich. (MyFox Detroit) -- 44-year-old Donald Larson of Lapeer spent his first few dollars on a pack of bubble gum, but he has a lot more money to chew on. The rest of his life's paychecks will be coming from a whopping $337 million check. That's before taxes.
"I wanted to travel a lot. Now I can. I can go anywhere in the world I want, so that's what I'm going to do."
The lifelong lottery player landed the third largest jackpot in Powerball history. The father of two is now a retired railroad worker.
Lawson isn't originally from Lapeer. He's a native of Arkansas. He said he will not stay in Lapeer, but he didn't specify where he plans to go.
In the meantime, his mother said she doesn't think this money will change him at all.
"He's always been like you see him today. He's a jokester. It's not going to change," she said.
"I'm a millionaire now, but... I don't like fillet mignon or lobster. You know, a simple life, that's what I want to continue to do," Larson said.
6, 27, 46, 51, 56 and Powerball 21 are the numbers that led Lawson to $337 million. He said thanks to the divine digits that someone helped him pick.
"Something from above, I do have to credit that, told me to go over there and pick my own numbers, which I didn't really pick them, my hand just went."
Even though Lawson isn't staying in Lapeer, the people there are pretty excited about their hometown hero, of sorts, winning, especially the Sunoco station where he bought the ticket. They're now getting a check for $50,000.
Click on the second video in the player above to watch the press conference.
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