Florida Lottery officials said a Largo woman was the winner of a $43 million jackpot, and she said she’s not keeping a penny of it. Ruby Sorah, 90, matched all six winnings numbers in the February 17 Florida Lotto drawing. Officials said Sorah chose to receive her winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment of $31,042,330.
Though she wouldn’t go on camera, Sorah told FOX 13 News that she and her husband, also 90 years old, were giving the whole jackpot away to family and they have no plans to change their lives at all. Neighbors, who said the couple is very low-key, are thrilled for them. “It’s God-sent. It’s heart-warming,” said Rick O’Callaghan, whose brother owns a house across the street. “It’s great. They’re the quietest, nicest, most reserved people you ever saw in your life. He only comes out to get the mail. Still mows his own lawn. Real, real simple people, got a real, real simple life.”
O’Callaghan said, if he won the lottery, he’s not sure he’d be able to give it all away. “[I would] pay off some of my bills. Maybe try and buy a house or something like that,” he said. Other neighbors said they might do the same thing as the Sorahs. “I think if I were in their situation, I would seriously thinking about doing the same thing. So God bless them. That’s just super,” a neighbor said. Ruby Sorah purchased the winning ticket at a Winn-Dixie grocery store on Park Boulevard in Seminole. The store will receive $100,000 in commission for selling the ticket.