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American Morning

Richest Man in Scott Depot, West Virginia

Aired December 27, 2002 - 08:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: He's now the richest man in Scott Depot, West Virginia and a lot of other places, as well. Jack Whittaker accepted the first payment hours after winning the Powerball lottery. In all, he's going to collect nearly $112 million after taxes and he knows how he's going to spend at least some of it.
Jack Whittaker is with us this morning, along with his wife Jewell and granddaughter Brandy Bragg (ph).

Good morning and congratulations to all of you.

JACK WHITTAKER, POWERBALL WINNER: Thank you so much.

JEWELL WHITTAKER, WIFE OF POWERBALL WINNER:

Thank you.

KAGAN: Quite a whirlwind, I know it's been, since you kind of put all those numbers together, Jack.

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, the machine put 'em together for me.

KAGAN: But when you had that moment, as I understand it, when you first looked at the screen and you first saw the numbers, you didn't think you won.

JACK WHITTAKER: No, the numbers came up wrong on the TV and my wife wrote 'em down and she was checking the numbers and we thought we had four numbers and a Powerball.

KAGAN: Which would have been a nice little prize.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. But when did you put it back together, no, I think we really, really hit it?

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, I got up the next morning and -- yesterday morning and I saw my place that I buy my biscuits and my gas and just about everything I use to get my day started. And I told my wife, I said, man, that's where I bought my ticket. I said we'd better check that ticket again. And sure enough, the TV station had flashed the wrong number on the screen and she had written it down wrong.

KAGAN: Aha, absolutely.

JACK WHITTAKER: They had put 11 up there instead of a 16 and we was the winners. And I just, I started calling my lawyer at six of course in the morning.

KAGAN: That was a good phone call. I'm sure he was very, more than happy to hear from you.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Jewell, what was it like that when you put it altogether, that, oh, my gosh, we actually have the winning ticket?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Well, I actually got sick.

KAGAN: Really?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: It was just so overwhelming?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: It was. It really was.

KAGAN: Has it sunk in yet, now, some 24, 25 hours later?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Not quite. But I'm not sick like I was yesterday.

KAGAN: Oh, I bet you're not. I bet it's starting to feel a lot better.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Um-hmm.

KAGAN: And then another part of the story I like, Brandi, you were actually sleeping over a friend's house and your grandfather gives you a call. You thought you were busted for something.

BRANDI BRAGG, GRANDDAUGHTER OF POWERBALL WINNER: Yes, I thought I was in trouble because we left a message on the answering machine because we were sleeping and we didn't answer the phone. And he was like Brandi, call me now. I was like ooh.

KAGAN: You weren't in trouble. It was actually some very good news.

BRAGG: Yes.

KAGAN: All right, let's go ahead and talk about what now. You actually have some pretty incredible plans for this money.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: You have three checks that you said you were going to write.

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, I'm sending 10 percent of the money as it comes into the pastors. We have ties to three different pastors. And I'm setting up a fund for those three pastors I'm hoping to be able to help others with.

KAGAN: Have you had a chance to talk with any of those pastors or has it been...

JACK WHITTAKER: I talked with one. That's all I've been able to get through to. Every time I call the other numbers, they're busy. But I'm sure they've seen me and by now they know what's going on.

KAGAN: I bet they have a good idea. That one pastor you did talk with, did he tell you what kind of plans he has for the money?

JACK WHITTAKER: He just was overwhelmed that we would even think about giving him that much money.

KAGAN: So he has a little bit of planning to do?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, I told him he needs to be making plans because in order for me to get it to him as fast as I can, they need to be able to control their taxes and stuff. So...

KAGAN: There you go.

JACK WHITTAKER: But he was ready to start planning last night. We talked to him about 10 o'clock.

KAGAN: Jewell, I think a lot of people were touched, especially during this holiday season, that the first thing that you thought of as a family of spending this money on had religious overtones.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: That's really already a big part of your life.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Um-hmm, yes.

KAGAN: And that's, do you want to share a little bit more with us about why that's important to you?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Well, I just have always longed to go to Israel and now that's a possibility and I plan to go.

KAGAN: That should be an excellent trip.

Jack, let's talk about the business. You already had a pretty big business going on for West Virginia.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, I did. I had 117 employees and we do water and sewer work all over the state of West Virginia.

KAGAN: And any plans to expand the business with the money there?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, there's plans to expand and I had about 25 people laid off and I've already made plans to put them back to work right after the first of the year.

KAGAN: So that's another way of spreading the wealth?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, it is. KAGAN: And we were hearing about the things you plan to do. There were things to do with the church and your pastor and the business. And then it sounded like there was one splurge item, and that was a helicopter.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: But actually when I was reading about why you wanted a helicopter, it actually has some practical implications.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, it has to do with work and if I had a helicopter to get around on some of the jobs, I would be able to spend more time at home.

KAGAN: So there you go, get from one side to the other.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: And is the helicopter going to come with a pilot, do you think?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes.

JACK WHITTAKER: I'm not flying.

KAGAN: Jewell, he's not going to be doing his own flying?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: No.

KAGAN: No.

Brandi, you don't think that would be a good idea?

BRAGG: No.

KAGAN: OK, so once you get past the business and the helicopter and things for the church, what about just total, total splurge items? Brandi, are you or your mom making any plans for that?

BRAGG: I want a car and I want to meet Nelly.

KAGAN: You want to meet Nelly?

BRAGG: Yes.

KAGAN: And a car. Grandpas, you think you can make that happen?

JACK WHITTAKER: I'm positive I can.

KAGAN: Well, good luck to you, Whittaker family.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Thank you.

KAGAN: It's really a pleasure to meet you and I know it's been quite a bit over the last 24 hours, but a lot of people having fun watching your story and kind of living through your joy.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

We want to thank the Powerball people for giving us the opportunity to do...

KAGAN: Do what you're doing, yes.

JACK WHITTAKER: Do what I'm doing, yes.

KAGAN: It sounds like it's just beginning.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Good luck.

JACK WHITTAKER: Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thank you for being with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 27, 2002 - 08:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: He's now the richest man in Scott Depot, West Virginia and a lot of other places, as well. Jack Whittaker accepted the first payment hours after winning the Powerball lottery. In all, he's going to collect nearly $112 million after taxes and he knows how he's going to spend at least some of it.
Jack Whittaker is with us this morning, along with his wife Jewell and granddaughter Brandy Bragg (ph).

Good morning and congratulations to all of you.

JACK WHITTAKER, POWERBALL WINNER: Thank you so much.

JEWELL WHITTAKER, WIFE OF POWERBALL WINNER:

Thank you.

KAGAN: Quite a whirlwind, I know it's been, since you kind of put all those numbers together, Jack.

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, the machine put 'em together for me.

KAGAN: But when you had that moment, as I understand it, when you first looked at the screen and you first saw the numbers, you didn't think you won.

JACK WHITTAKER: No, the numbers came up wrong on the TV and my wife wrote 'em down and she was checking the numbers and we thought we had four numbers and a Powerball.

KAGAN: Which would have been a nice little prize.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. But when did you put it back together, no, I think we really, really hit it?

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, I got up the next morning and -- yesterday morning and I saw my place that I buy my biscuits and my gas and just about everything I use to get my day started. And I told my wife, I said, man, that's where I bought my ticket. I said we'd better check that ticket again. And sure enough, the TV station had flashed the wrong number on the screen and she had written it down wrong.

KAGAN: Aha, absolutely.

JACK WHITTAKER: They had put 11 up there instead of a 16 and we was the winners. And I just, I started calling my lawyer at six of course in the morning.

KAGAN: That was a good phone call. I'm sure he was very, more than happy to hear from you.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Jewell, what was it like that when you put it altogether, that, oh, my gosh, we actually have the winning ticket?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Well, I actually got sick.

KAGAN: Really?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: It was just so overwhelming?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: It was. It really was.

KAGAN: Has it sunk in yet, now, some 24, 25 hours later?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Not quite. But I'm not sick like I was yesterday.

KAGAN: Oh, I bet you're not. I bet it's starting to feel a lot better.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Um-hmm.

KAGAN: And then another part of the story I like, Brandi, you were actually sleeping over a friend's house and your grandfather gives you a call. You thought you were busted for something.

BRANDI BRAGG, GRANDDAUGHTER OF POWERBALL WINNER: Yes, I thought I was in trouble because we left a message on the answering machine because we were sleeping and we didn't answer the phone. And he was like Brandi, call me now. I was like ooh.

KAGAN: You weren't in trouble. It was actually some very good news.

BRAGG: Yes.

KAGAN: All right, let's go ahead and talk about what now. You actually have some pretty incredible plans for this money.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: You have three checks that you said you were going to write.

JACK WHITTAKER: Well, I'm sending 10 percent of the money as it comes into the pastors. We have ties to three different pastors. And I'm setting up a fund for those three pastors I'm hoping to be able to help others with.

KAGAN: Have you had a chance to talk with any of those pastors or has it been...

JACK WHITTAKER: I talked with one. That's all I've been able to get through to. Every time I call the other numbers, they're busy. But I'm sure they've seen me and by now they know what's going on.

KAGAN: I bet they have a good idea. That one pastor you did talk with, did he tell you what kind of plans he has for the money?

JACK WHITTAKER: He just was overwhelmed that we would even think about giving him that much money.

KAGAN: So he has a little bit of planning to do?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, I told him he needs to be making plans because in order for me to get it to him as fast as I can, they need to be able to control their taxes and stuff. So...

KAGAN: There you go.

JACK WHITTAKER: But he was ready to start planning last night. We talked to him about 10 o'clock.

KAGAN: Jewell, I think a lot of people were touched, especially during this holiday season, that the first thing that you thought of as a family of spending this money on had religious overtones.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: That's really already a big part of your life.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Um-hmm, yes.

KAGAN: And that's, do you want to share a little bit more with us about why that's important to you?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Well, I just have always longed to go to Israel and now that's a possibility and I plan to go.

KAGAN: That should be an excellent trip.

Jack, let's talk about the business. You already had a pretty big business going on for West Virginia.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, I did. I had 117 employees and we do water and sewer work all over the state of West Virginia.

KAGAN: And any plans to expand the business with the money there?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, there's plans to expand and I had about 25 people laid off and I've already made plans to put them back to work right after the first of the year.

KAGAN: So that's another way of spreading the wealth?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, it is. KAGAN: And we were hearing about the things you plan to do. There were things to do with the church and your pastor and the business. And then it sounded like there was one splurge item, and that was a helicopter.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: But actually when I was reading about why you wanted a helicopter, it actually has some practical implications.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes, it has to do with work and if I had a helicopter to get around on some of the jobs, I would be able to spend more time at home.

KAGAN: So there you go, get from one side to the other.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: And is the helicopter going to come with a pilot, do you think?

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes.

JACK WHITTAKER: I'm not flying.

KAGAN: Jewell, he's not going to be doing his own flying?

JEWELL WHITTAKER: No.

KAGAN: No.

Brandi, you don't think that would be a good idea?

BRAGG: No.

KAGAN: OK, so once you get past the business and the helicopter and things for the church, what about just total, total splurge items? Brandi, are you or your mom making any plans for that?

BRAGG: I want a car and I want to meet Nelly.

KAGAN: You want to meet Nelly?

BRAGG: Yes.

KAGAN: And a car. Grandpas, you think you can make that happen?

JACK WHITTAKER: I'm positive I can.

KAGAN: Well, good luck to you, Whittaker family.

JEWELL WHITTAKER: Thank you.

KAGAN: It's really a pleasure to meet you and I know it's been quite a bit over the last 24 hours, but a lot of people having fun watching your story and kind of living through your joy.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

We want to thank the Powerball people for giving us the opportunity to do...

KAGAN: Do what you're doing, yes.

JACK WHITTAKER: Do what I'm doing, yes.

KAGAN: It sounds like it's just beginning.

JACK WHITTAKER: Yes.

KAGAN: Good luck.

JACK WHITTAKER: Thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thank you for being with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com