Man shares $22 million jackpot with friend, fulfilling 30-year promise

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A Wisconsin man graciously shared his lottery millions with a friend, fulfilling a promise made nearly 30 years ago.

Tom Cook called his friend Joe Feeney, a man he had made a promise with in 1992: if either one of them won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the cash between them.

That promise was fulfilled after Cook recently won $22 million.

Tim Cook, Joe Feeney and their wives, collecting the prize-winning check (Wisconsin Lottery)

“He called me and I said: ‘Are you jerking my bobber?” Feeney said, recalling the moment he found out that his friend had won.

Cook and Feeney are taking a cash payout of $16.7 million, and each will get about $5.7 million after taxes, the Wisconsin Lottery says.

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Cook promptly quit his job after learning he had won, and he had no doubt that he would split the money with his friend, according to a press release by PA Media.

“That happened many years ago, and it kind of continued,” Cook said. “A handshake’s a handshake, man.”

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“I’ve got grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and now I can spend time with them without worrying about if I’ve got time to go and where we can go and afford it and whatever. I can’t think of a better way to retire.”