A Wisconsin man decided to split his lottery winnings with his best friend after he won the $22 million dollar jackpot last month.
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Thomas Cook of Elk Mound won the Powerball jackpot after purchasing a lottery ticket from a gas station in Menomonie in June and contacted his friend Joseph Feeney. At first, Feeney thought Cook was joking because the pair would buy lottery tickets every week with no luck. 28 years ago, the friends made a promise with each other to split the lottery winnings if one of them ever wins the jackpot.
Both men have agreed to take home $16.7 million and will receive $5.7 million after federal and state taxes. Both men are retired and say they plan to go on vacation.
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They also said they have many other plans to spend the money but want to have more quality time with their children and grandchildren.
“We can pursue what we feel comfortable with, I can’t think of a better way to retire.”
The gas station where Cook bought the ticket has also received $100,000 for selling the lottery ticket.