Knox man emerges as $50 million Powerball winner

A Knox County man bought the $50 million Powerball jackpot ticket last month in Harriman, the Tennessee Lottery announced Friday.

Michael Duncan took a lump sum payout of $33.5 million, with taxes deducted, and appeared Friday at Nashville lottery headquarters, according to lottery officials. No photo was available because Duncan declined, according to lottery spokeswoman Kym Gerlock.

He bought the ticket at Rocky Top Market, 1811 Roane St. in Harriman. The winning drawing took place March 21.

Duncan is the second man from Knox County in less than a year to win a Powerball jackpot. In June, Roy Cockrum of Knoxville won $259.8 million.

According to state lottery officials, Duncan bought the ticket while on a quick visit to the store, telling lottery officials “he was not a regular Lottery player and had not originally planned to play that day.”

He selected his winning numbers based on family members’ ages.

Duncan’s is the third largest prize in Tennessee Lottery history, according to Gerlock.

Rocky Top Market gets $25,000 for selling the winning jackpot ticket.