With a jackpot forecast to exceed $1.3 billion on Wednesday night I thought it might be interesting to look back at the last time a large Powerball payout occurred in our state. The year was 2008 and the amount of the jackpot at the time was $97 million dollars.

It's funny how $1.3 billion dollars makes $97 million seem like not so much but for Carl Hunter of Metarie it was a life changing amount. Hunter told reporter Jed Lipinski of NOLA.com that he stopped at a gas station to get a gallon of milk when he bought the ticket on a "quick pick".

There was a person in line in front of me and behind me also purchasing tickets for the drawing. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

After learning he had won the jackpot he continued to work for an additional  four months before retiring from his job in the construction industry. Hunter elected to take the money in a lump sum payment of $48,478,863, or $33,935,204 after Uncle Sam and the state took their cut.

How did winning the Powerball jackpot change his life?

It created a lot of problems for me in the beginning. I helped a lot of people that needed help, but that's about as far as I'll go.

He would not comment further on the specifics of the problems he faced or the people he helped.

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