CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The 55-year-old contractor who won the Powerball's $314.9 million jackpot on Christmas Day said he will first give 10 percent to his church.
"I just want to thank God for letting me pick the right numbers - or letting the machine pick the right numbers," said Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr.
Whittaker said he plans to lavish money on his family, expand his contracting business, maybe buy a helicopter and give money to the Church of God, according to The Associated Press.
"The very first thing I'm going to do is sit down and make out three checks to three pastors for 10 percent of this check," he said.
Whittaker opted to take a lump sum of $170 million before taxes instead of 30 annual installments. He said he would provide $17 million to the three pastors and let them control the money and perhaps establish a Christian school.
"Seventeen million in the state of West Virginia will really do good for the poor," he said.
Whittaker's wife of 36 years, Jewell, said she plans to go to Israel.
"It's where Jesus walked," she said.
The jackpot was the biggest ever one by a single ticketholder, according to the AP.
