“A handshake’s a handshake,” said the lottery winner in Wisconsin who is living up to an agreement made with his buddy almost three decades ago.
Friends Tom Cook and Joe Feeney shook hands in 1992, swearing that if either one of the pals won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the winnings…no matter who bought the ticket.
Tom, of Elk Mound, was ’frozen’ when he realized the Powerball ticket he bought was the $22 Million jackpot winner.
Afterward, he called Joe in Menomonie to tell him the news and Joe, an avid fisherman, couldn’t quite believe it.
“He called me and I said, ‘are you jerking my bobber?’’ recalls Joe.
Sold in 45 states, the overall odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in almost 300 million.
Tom gave his two weeks-notice and retired upon learning the news.
Neither have any extravagant plans for the winnings—both took home nearly $6 million after taxes—but are looking forward to enjoying more family time.
They do look forward to some traveling. Previously, Tom, Joe, and their wives took a road trip together in a small PT Cruiser convertible. For future road trips, they plan to upgrade their vehicle.
“I can’t think of a better way to retire,” Tom concluded.
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