A married Florida couple originally from Long Island claimed their share of the historic $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot Wednesday — after keeping the winnings a secret from their own family.
Maureen Smith, 70, and David Kaltschmidt, 55, of Melbourne Beach, said at a news conference that they didn’t tell any family members or friends that they won $528.7 million of the jackpot until last week.
“That was hard,” said Smith when describing what it was like to keep the secret. Smith added that she and her husband of 36 years “just kept quiet” and “acted normal.”
The couple, who are natives of Islip in Suffolk County, opted to take the one-time lump-sum payment of about $327.8 million before taxes. Smith said she purchased the winning ticket at a Publix supermarket in Melbourne Beach, where the two have lived since 1991.
“They are numbers I have played for years that I very rarely play,” she said, adding that when the two realized they had actually won they “didn’t believe it.”
They sought legal help and then later established a trust called The Nickel 95 Trust for the lump sum.
Kaltschmidt, a manufacturing engineer at global security company Northrop Grumman, said he plans to retire. “It’s going to change my day-to-day life. Instead of designing airplanes, I’m going to be doing, you know, charities and tax strategies and investments,” Kaltschmidt said.
He also said that he plans on replacing his broken-down truck.
Smith said that besides getting a massage, she’s not sure of what to do with their winnings.
“We’re not going to party,” she said. “Of course we’re going to take care of family. We have a lot to think about. It’s very stressful, and it’s new.”
Smith did say that she does have some concerns about receiving the cash. “I’m afraid it’s gonna make me less friendly because I’ll be worried.”
The other two winning tickets for the Jan. 13 Powerball drawing — the largest in history — were purchased in Tennessee and California.
The California winner’s identity still remains a mystery.