Miami Airport Hotels - Neighbors Shocked By 84-Year-Old Woman's Powerball Win

Source - http://www.freep.com/
By - Larry Copeland
Category - Miami Airport Hotels
Posted By - Homewood Suites Miami

Miami Airport Hotels

Florida's newest multimillionaire lives in a one-bedroom home in a low-slung gray duplex.

At least for now.

But after winning a $590.5 million Powerball lottery -- the most ever for a single lottery winner in the USA -- Gloria Mackenzie's neighbors don't expect her to be here long. On Wednesday, she opted for the lottery's lump-sum payment of $370.8 million. That leaves her with about $278.2 million at her disposal after taxes.

"I don't believe she's coming back here," said Jorge Trapero, 70, who lives in the other side of the duplex. "Would you do that?"

Neighbors describe Mackenzie, 84, as a quiet, self-sufficient lady who is friendly but keeps to herself. They had no idea she had hit the jackpot.

"When we moved in about a year ago, we saw she was an elderly lady and told her to let us know if she ever needed anything," said neighbor Paul Bathrick, 37. "She never took us up on that. I just hope we get a chance to tell her congratulations when she comes to get her stuff. I don't expect her to be living in this crappy place anymore."

Trapero said Mackenzie left a few weeks ago with her son, who lives in Jacksonville, and he didn't see her for a while. The son told him she was sick, he said.

When Trapero saw Mackenzie, he clapped and cheered. "I kinda think she thought I knew she had won," he said. "But none of us knew."

Mackenzie's car was in her driveway, but neighbors haven't seen her in several days. Several media people were staking out the house Wednesday night.