Woman who let Powerball winner cut in line has no regrets

The woman who stepped aside and possibly lost a $590 million Powerball jackpot says she has no regrets. Mindy Crandell's charitable gesture cost her a massive fortune that could have changed her life and the lives of her children for generations.

MIAMI, FL (Catholic Online) - Nobody in the small town of Zephyrhills, Florida expected to win the Powerball jackpot, just as everyone is pessimistic about their chances. So naturally, Mindy Crandell, 34, thought nothing of stepping aside with her daughter so the eventual winner, Gloria C. Mackenzie, 84, could buy the ticket that eventually won the massive jackpot.

Crandell's gesture became known when Mackenzie released a statement thanking her for allowing her to cut in line, a move which let her win the $590.5 million prize.

Mackenzie purchased a single ticket and subsequently won the prize. After several days of waiting, she finally came forward with a financial advisor to claim her prize.

According to Crandell, they were in line at a Publix store waiting their turn to buy a ticket. While tending to one of her two daughters, Mackenzie cut in line. Although the employee at the counter stopped Mackenzie to allow Crandell to reclaim her place in line, Crandell decided to set a good example for her children and allowed Mackenzie to buy her ticket ahead of her in line.

That lesson cost Crandell $590 million as Mackenzie walked out with the winning ticket.

Crandell told the media that her family teased her about the incident prior to the drawing, laughingly predicting that the elder Mackenzie would now win the jackpot. Now, their jokes have became reality.

"The joke was, that's the lady that's going to win it. I was like, 'Yeah right. No one is going to win from little Zephyrhills,'" Crandell recalled saying.

Mackenzie has not said what she plans what to do with the money, but she did accept a lump sum payout of the jackpot for $370.8 million before taxes.

Crandell says she hold no ill will towards Mackenzie and that she hopes the money blesses her family. She added, "It could have been us, but things happen. Sometimes it's better to be patient than right. I knew we were teaching our daughter the right thing."

While Mackenzie has asked for privacy following her win, we can at least hope she remembers Crandell and does something kind for the woman who allowed her to cut in line and win a fortune.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'