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11 remarkable stories of lottery luck in the Bluegrass State

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

The articles all reveal how people in Kentucky have experienced unexpected shifts in fortune through the lottery. Winners have come from different parts of the state, but each demonstrates how a lottery ticket can change financial plans and daily routines.

A woman in Estill County realized she won $100,000 from Powerball after almost throwing away the ticket. A Campbell County man scratched off a $1 million prize and decided how to manage it with his family. Another Kentucky woman stopped for ice cream, bought a scratch-off ticket, and walked out of the store with a $1 million win.

Read more about their big wins below.

Pamela Howard-Thorton, of Shepherdsville, Ky., poses with her big check at Kentucky Lottery’s Louisville headquarters recently after winning $80,000 on a scratch-off ticket.

NO. 1: KY WOMAN CASHES IN 5-FIGURE LOTTERY TICKET SHE NEARLY THREW AWAY BEFORE SCRATCHING

She told lottery officials she had a dream of a large jackpot prize. | Published June 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jackie Starkey

The debate over the debt limit will likely flare tensions between centrist and far-right Republicans the closer the country gets to the real deadline sometime later in the year.

NO. 2: ‘HOW MANY ZEROES DOES IT HAVE?’ KENTUCKY MAN SCRATCHES OFF 7-FIGURE LOTTERY WIN

The anonymous man told lottery officials he plans to buy his mother a condo with the winnings. | Published January 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Kentucky Lottery logo

NO. 3: AN EASTERN KENTUCKY WOMAN PLANS TO PAY OFF HER HOME FOLLOWING 6-FIGURE LOTTERY WIN

The lucky Laurel County woman won on a $1 ticket. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

La afortunada ganadora declaró que planeaba usar el dinero en pagar facturas, añadiendo después que “le quedaba lo suficiente como para viajar un poco”.

NO. 4: KY WOMAN STOPS AT GAS STATION WHILE IN SEARCH OF ICE CREAM, LEAVES WITH $1M LOTTERY WIN

She had a craving for a Dairy Queen Blizzard, she told lottery officials. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

A winning Powerball ticket sold in Fort Mill hasn’t been claimed, as its expiration nears. By Keith Srakocic

NO. 5: KENTUCKY WOMAN WON $100K PLAYING POWERBALL. THEN REALIZED SHE’D THROWN THE TICKET AWAY

She was a first-time Powerball player, Kentucky Lottery says. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Jugador de la Lotería de la Florida gana $131,000. ¿Dónde se vendió el afortunado boleto?

NO. 6: WESTERN KENTUCKY MAN PAID $20 FOR A LOTTERY TICKET — IT PROVED TO BE A 7-FIGURE WINNER

“I was kind of in shock,” he told Kentucky Lottery officials. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Hazel Morris poses with her husband Dale, showing off a large check made out with their Kentucky Lottery winnings. Hazel Morris won more than $281,000 playing the Elephant King instant play game.

NO. 7: WITH A CARTON OF EGGS IN HAND, KY WOMAN SECURES A MEME-WORTHY ONLINE LOTTERY WIN

She can now afford all the eggs she wants. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Publix del sur de la Florida vende su segundo boleto de lotería con un premio mayor en dos meses.

NO. 8: SENTIMENTAL TICKET NUMBERS WIN KENTUCKY LOTTERY PLAYER A 6-FIGURE PRIZE

The man purchased Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets as part of a Christmas in July promotion. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

El único boleto con premio mayor de la Lotería de Florida del domingo se compró en el sur de la Florida.

NO. 9: KY MAN SWITCHES UP LOTTERY GAMES. HIS $20 WAGER MADE HIM A MILLIONAIRE

A winning scratch-off ticket from the Kentucky Lottery’s Feelin’ Like A Million Bucks game turned a Shelby County man into an instant millionaire with a $20 wager. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

By Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 10: KY MAN THOUGHT WON HE $96 ON A LOTTERY TICKET. IT WAS 1,000 TIMES THAT AMOUNT

A Richmond man who initially thought he’d won $96 on a Kentucky Fast Play ticket ended up winning more than 1,000 times that amount, the lottery announced Aug. | Published August 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Michael Perry poses for a photo with his wife Felicia. The Owen County couple have big plans for their Kentucky Lottery winnings.

NO. 11: KENTUCKY MAN PLANS TO PAY OFF HOME AFTER A BIG WIN ON A $10 LOTTERY TICKET

A $10 scratch-off ticket brought tears to Felicia Perry’s eyes when her husband, Michael, revealed the Owen County couple had won $250,000. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.