Ariz. Powerball Jackpot Winner Identified

Dec. 11, 2012— -- The second winner of the record $587.5 million Powerball jackpot has been identified as Matthew Good of Fountain Hills, Ariz.

Good, 37, chose to remain anonymous after he claimed the one-time payout of $192 million from the Nov. 28 drawing last week, but lottery winners in Arizona are a matter of public record. The Associated Press released Good's identity Monday after it filed a request to learn the lucky winner's name.

Lottery officials say Good did exactly what someone who just won $192 million should: He hired a team of attorneys and financial advisors before disappearing from the public eye.

Arizona lottery officials held a news conference last week to announce there was a winner, but state law didn't require the winner to attend.

Instead, Good issued a statement through the lottery saying, "It is difficult to express just how thankful we are for this wonderful gift. We are extremely grateful and feel fortunate to now have an increased ability to support our charities and causes. Obviously, this has been incredibly overwhelming and we have always cherished our privacy."

The new instant millionaire works as a manager at an electronics company and lives with his wife and young daughter in an affluent Phoenix suburb, and, according to friends and neighbors, he certainly lives up to his last name.

"Just a very personable, nice guy," Good's friend Jeff Talmadge said. "I mean he's always out there trying to help somebody."

Good grew up on a working-class block in Wormleysburg, Pa. His stepmother, Charlotte Good, said in an interview with the AP that Good was "a typical kid" who has always worked hard. She said he waited until Saturday to phone his father, Ray, with the news.

"My husband, he just can't get over it," Charlotte Good, 63, a retired state Revenue Department employee, said. "It's his son."

Matt Good told lottery officials that he would be taking the cash option because he's worried his taxes will go up as bickering politicians in Washington edge closer to the "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1, 2013.

Arizona lottery officials had previously said the ticket was purchased at a Four Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., and was part of a $10 Quick Pick ticket.

Good will split the jackpot with Mark and Cindy Hill of Dearborn, Mo., who already claimed their half Nov. 30.

Speculation and curiosity have grown for weeks over the Arizona winner's identity. A man was caught celebrating on camera at a Maryland gas station after checking his lottery tickets. But he didn't have the goods.

This Powerball jackpot was the second-largest lotto payout in U.S. history. A Mega Millions jackpot paid $656 million in March. Before the Hills and Goods were able to match all six numbers, the Powerball jackpot rolled over 16 consecutive times without a winner.

Lottery officials said hopeful millionaires were purchasing 130,000 tickets a minute on the day of the $587.5 million drawing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.