N.H.’s Senator Gregg, 17 Erie Insurance Employees Among Powerball Winners

Winners of this week’s Powerball lottery include a millionaire U.S. senator from New Hampshire and 17 employees of Erie Insurance Group in Erie, Pa.

Neither U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) nor the Erie Insurance team won the big $340 million jackpot; that is being held for an Oregon ticket holder.

But they are among the 47 winners of consolation prizes of a little more than $850,000 each.

According to the local CBS television news affiliate, WSEE, 17 employees at Erie Insurance each paid five dollars to buy 85 chances to win the $340 million. They came within one number of winning the giant prize. Splitting the $853,492 second place prize among the group will leave each with about $35,000 after taxes.

Senator Gregg bought $20 worth of Powerball tickets at a local gas station. Gregg, too, received a check for $853,492 when he matched all but one of the jackpot numbers..

“Every American believes in good fortune and good luck, and I’m no different than anyone else,” he said at a news conference. He said he would donate a portion of the winnings to charity.

Gregg, a Republican, heads the Senate Budget Committee. In his most recent public financial disclosure form, he reported having between $1.5 million to $6.2 million in stocks, real estate and other investments. He is one of at least 40 senators who enjoy millionaire status.

The Powerball ticket winning the $340 million jackpot was sold in the Jacksonville, Ore., area but had not been claimed at last report.