On the evening of Wednesday, January 13, one person could become a millionaire. But it won't be Sam Arlen.
The Tallahassee resident has the bi-weekly task of announcing to the country which six numbers were drawn for the Powerball lottery. And this week's jackpot of $1.5 billion has the US on the edge of its seat, making Arlen the center of a lottery-frenzy.
ABC News' Meghan Keneally spoke with Arlen about his role in the Powerball world. The gig, which requires Arlen to Stand in front of green-screen, wearing a tux, and reading off the randomly selected numbers, has been his since 2012.
"It's incredibly exciting," Arlen told ABC News. "I feel just grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this certainly national, almost international, energy around this game."
In 2013, Arlen explained the bi-weekly routine to local Tallahassee news station WTXL: “I get here at about 9:45, sometimes a little earlier…and then we come out about five minutes to air. We get the countdown, the red light comes on, and we are live across the country.”
Arlen began his career as a lottery host for the local Florida State Lottery in 2006, but transitioned to his national spot with Powerball in 2012.
