California nurse pranked by son, was not Powerball jackpot winner

POMONA, Calif. (WPVI) -- A Pomona, California nurse identified by her employer as the winner of the record-breaking Powerball jackpot did not, in fact, win, her family told ABC News.

The family of the 62-year-old woman said the nurse's son played a prank on his mother.

California Lottery officials said they were skeptical after a spokesperson for nursing home owner Shlomo Rechnitz said the winner was a senior registered nurse at Park Avenue Health Care and Wellness Center in Pomona.

Rechnitz's spokesperson said the nurse was given a ticket by her boss, who bought 18,000 tickets for his employees and residents at 80 nursing home across California.

Rechnitz described the prank as "despicable" and told ABC News he wants the nurse to have some fun with the situation. He said he will buy an all-expense paid vacation for the nurse and her family to anywhere they choose.

Lottery officials stated that no one has come forward to claim the prize.

Meanwhile, a couple went on NBC's "Today" show to claim they have a winning Powerball ticket that was sold in Munford, Tennessee.

John and Lisa Robinson appeared on Friday and showed a ticket that had the winning numbers from Wednesday night's record $1.6 billion drawing. The Associated Press could not immediately verify their claim.

There have been other hoax claims in the wake of the world-record jackpot and lottery officials have so far not announced any official winners.

The Tennessee couple live near the store where the winning ticket was bought. They say they will reach out to Tennessee lottery officials later Friday.

They say their lawyer advised them to go on TV first as a way of controlling the story.

John Robinson says he bought the ticket and three others Wednesday night while on the way home.

The final total for the jackpot was $1,586,400,000 with a cash value of $983,500,000, according to the Texas Lottery.

A third winning ticket was sold in Florida, but that winner has yet to come forward.

Powerball is played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.