Longtime friends share $22 million Powerball jackpot

MENOMONIE, Wis. — A Wisconsin man won a $22 million Powerball jackpot and shared the winnings with his longtime friend because of a pact they made three decades ago.

Tom Cook and Joseph Feeney promised that if either of them got the big winner they would share it. They shook hands on the promise in 1992.

In June, Cook was eating breakfast when he realized he had the winning numbers. He called Feeney to tell him.

"I said, 'Are you jerking my bobber?'" said Feeney, an avid fisherman.

They decided on the cash option, a $16.7 million payout. After taxes, Cook and Feeney got about $5.7 million each. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in about 292 million.

"A hand shake's a hand shake," Cook said.

After winning, Cook retired. Feeney had already retired. They look forward to spending time with their families.

“We can pursue what we feel comfortable with,” Cook said. “I can’t think of a better way to retire.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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