The Wisconsin man who won a $22 million Powerball jackpot in June has claimed his prize - and kept a promise he sealed with a handshake 28 years ago. In 1992, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney shook hands on an agreement: if either man ever hit it big on
Powerball, they would share the winnings equally. Fast-forward to 2020, and that's exactly what's happened.
Cook, of Elk Mound, hit an incredible $22 million top prize in the
June 10 Powerball draw.
"We said whenever the big winner comes, we're going to split it, so we buy every week ... not really thinking it would happen," Feeney said. In fact, their biggest prize prior to the jackpot win was $100.
Cook was out for breakfast with his wife last month when he checked his numbers and realized he'd won the top prize.
Feeney told Lottery officials: "He said to his wife when he got back to the table, 'You read this.' She looked at it and said, 'Oh my God.' She handed it to somebody else and said, ‘Can you read those numbers for us?’”
The friend confirmed that "It looks like you guys won the Powerball."
Cook wasted no time reaching out to his fishing buddy. "A handshake is a handshake, man," he said.
"He called me and I said, 'are you jerkin' my bobber?'" Feeney recalled.
They'd finally landed the big one!
The men opted for the cash lump sum of $16.7 million, and after taxes they're each about $5.7 million better off.
The win allowed Cook to quit his job as a maintenance worker and join Feeney, a former firefighter and EMT, in retirement.
The men first met at a restaurant; Cook was with a friend and invited Feeney to sit at their table. Decades later, they still go out to eat together nearly every week. Over the years they've enjoyed trips to Niagara Falls, Yellowstone and the Football Hall of Fame.
The friends have had a warm reception after the news of their win. "Everybody's been so friendly and said it couldn't happen to two better couples that they know of," Feeney said. "And we're so thankful ... we both grew up with not a lot of money, so this is really something special," he noted, recalling growing up in a two-bedroom house as one of a family of 13 children in Elk Mound.
What plans do the lucky pair have for their prize money? More family time is at the top of their list. "We can pursue what we feel comfortable with. I can't think of a better way to retire," said Cook.
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