Sen. Gregg Wins Big in Powerball
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 – A quick stop at a New York Avenue gas station to fill up on his way to the Capitol proved to be a lucky stop for New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg.
Gregg, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was one of 47 Powerball lottery winners Wednesday to match five of the numbers, though not the Powerball number. His reward: $853,492 before taxes.
“I’ve always considered myself to be one of the luckiest people in the country just to be able to represent New Hampshire,” Gregg said in conference call with reporters Thursday. “Now this has just sort of been confirmed.”
Gregg, who does not frequently play the lottery and has no intention of doing so again soon, spent $20 on Powerball tickets, allowing the machine to select all of his numbers randomly.
“I think everybody in America believes in good fortune and little luck,” Gregg said. “I’m no different than everybody else.”
Gregg said he and his wife, Kathleen, will donate “a fair amount of money into the [Hugh Gregg] Family Foundation,” which assists charities in New Hampshire, adding that he will “await instructions from my wife” about what to do with the remainder of the money.
After taxes, Gregg will receive about $500,000.
Gregg said his wife was initially hesitant, questioning whether he had read the numbers correctly. “I do tend to be a little dyslexic,” he added.
When asked what signal it sent to the public for a “budget hawk” to win the lottery, Gregg replied, “I guess it means I’m good with numbers.”
Gregg said he deposited his winnings Thursday. “I figured I didn’t want to lose it,” he explained.
