24-year-old wins $768 million jackpot in US

Wisconsin resident Manuel Franco is the winner of last month’s $768.4 million Powerball jackpot — the third-largest in U.S. history.

“It feels like a dream,” Franco, 24, said at a press conference Tuesday.

“It was amazing, my heart started racing, blood pumping,” he said. “I screamed for about 5 or 10 minutes.”

“My dad cried lot,” he added.

The winning ticket was sold on March 27 at a Speedway in New Berlin, about 15 miles west of Milwaukee.

“I walked into the Speedway and I purchased $10 worth of individual Powerball tickets,” Franco said.

“I honestly felt so lucky that I did look up at the camera and I wanted to wink at it because I just had that lucky feeling.”

Franco, who was born in Milwaukee, has been playing Powerball since he turned 18.

He said he bought his first ticket on his 18th birthday.

The jackpot has a lump sum cash value of $477 million, according to the Powerball website.

Franco said he is accepting the lump sum.

State law does not allow the winner to stay anonymous, said Wisconsin Lottery Director Cindy Polzin.

Franco had 180 days to claim the ticket.

Agency report