Before departing on a business trip to Denver, one man would become a millionaire.

Dave and Nancy Honeywell of Fredericksburg have claimed the $217 million Powerball jackpot (see below).

Dave Honeywell purchased the winning ticket of randomly selected numbers at the Lottery Express machine in the Richmond International Airport before departing on a business trip. He realized he had won the following morning in Denver, Colorado.

The couple, both employees of the Department of Defense, took the one-time payment option worth $136.4 million.

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A lottery ticketed with an estimated worth of $217 million was purchased in at the Richmond International Airport at the atrium-located Lottery Express machine, according to the VA Lottery.

The winning numbers of last night’s Powerball draw were: 5 • 27 • 36 • 38 • 41 and the Powerball number 12.

The winner has 180 days from the drawing to claim the prize. The winner can take the full jackpot in 30 annual payments, or a one-time cash option of roughly $136.4 million.

This is the second-largest jackpot won by a ticket purchased in Virginia. The largest was $239 million in 2004, won by a man in Winchester.

photo by Upupa4me