Kentucky lottery winners share emotional triumphs and surprises

These stories highlight Kentucky residents who have experienced lottery wins, often with unexpected twists and strong emotional reactions. Many of the winners use their prize money to pay off debt, make purchases or support loved ones.

One woman in Estill County realized she had thrown away a $100,000 Powerball ticket but recovered it from the trash with help from a store clerk. Another winner from Louisville said she bought a ticket because the name reminded her of a Johnny Cash song and scratched off a $100,000 prize. A woman in Shepherdsville almost discarded her $80,000 scratch-off win before spotting it in the trash and calling her mother to share the news.

Janita Carter poses with her winnings after scratching off the top, $100,000 prize on the lottery Kentucky Lottery’s Ring of Fire game.

NO. 1: LOTTERY TICKET REMINDS KY WOMAN OF A HIT CLASSIC COUNTRY SONG. IT WON HER FAMILY $100K

“It’s not going to just go to us. We have people we love,” the winner told Kentucky Lottery officials. | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

NO. 2: 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

Tamika Waddy, of Lexington, poses with her big check in early January at Kentucky Lottery’s Louisville headquarters after winning $200,000 on a scratch-off ticket.

NO. 3: LEXINGTON LOTTERY PLAYER PLANS FOR VACATION, NEW RIDE AFTER WINNING 6-FIGURE PRIZE

She purchased the lucky ticket from an area grocery store. | Published January 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jackie Starkey

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

Scott Reynolds and his wife are planning on using their $75,000 lottery win to purchase a new church van. Reynolds is a pastor in Corbin, Kentucky.

NO. 6: LOTTERY LAUNCHED A NEW BOURBON-THEMED GAME. KENTUCKY PASTOR JUST WON THE JACKPOT

The man purchased the winning lottery ticket during an unplanned snack stop due to road trip traffic. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lindsay Smith

A Scott County man was arrested in Florida just days after winning the largest Powerball jackpot in Kentucky Lottery history.

NO. 7: CENTRAL KY MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING COPS DAYS AFTER WINNING $167M POWERBALL

The incident happened at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Christopher Leach

Rohith Kandula, center, poses with his lottery winnings alongside his fellow University of Cincinnati graduates recently at Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville.

NO. 8: COLLEGE GRAD BUYS KY LOTTERY TICKET WHILE OUT WITH FRIENDS. IT WAS A BIG WINNER

“I was in shock. I could hear my heartbeat,” Rohith Kandula told the Kentucky Lottery. | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

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. 9: 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

Kathy Bailey, of Lexington, poses with her Kentucky Lottery winnings.

NO. 10: LEXINGTON WOMAN CREDITS LUCKY FORTUNE COOKIE FOR BIG ONLINE KENTUCKY LOTTERY WIN

She wagered $5 on the instant play game. | Published July 2, 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.