Kentucky woman won $100K playing Powerball. Then realized she’d thrown the ticket away
A woman in Estill County recently won $100,000 as a first-time Powerball player — only to realize she’d thrown away the ticket by mistake.
The woman, whom Kentucky Lottery officials said wishes to remain anonymous, was tipped off to the win by a conscientious convenience store clerk.
When the woman walked up to the clerk to cash in a different ticket, the clerk told her she had won the six-figure prize after previously purchasing the winning ticket at the store.
“I said, no I didn’t, and he said, ‘Yes you did!” the woman reportedly said, according to a March 14 Kentucky Lottery news release.
She immediately went home to look for the winning ticket and began digging through her trash can. Sure enough, there it was.
“There were two tickets stuck together, and I didn’t realize it,” the woman told the Kentucky Lottery.
Her winning ticket matched four white ball numbers and the red Powerball, meaning she’d won the game’s $50,000 prize. However, because she’d paid an extra $1 for the Power Play add-on feature, her winnings were multiplied, in this case by two. The Power Play multiplies winnings for every prize, except the jackpot.
Powerball’s Feb. 15 winning numbers were 3, 16, 45, 54, 56 and Powerball 12.
The woman’s trash was due to be picked up the following day, so she was grateful the store clerk said something to her.
“I wasn’t going to go up there, but something told me to go. I’m sure glad I did!,” she said of the trip to the store.
On Feb. 21, she drove to Kentucky Lottery headquarters in downtown Louisville, a requirement for big wins, and claimed her check. After taxes, she took home $72,000.
She told the lottery she plans to use her winnings to buy a new car, as well as cover other expenses.
“It’s about time I got a new car,” she said. “I deserve it.”
The Estill County woman isn’t Kentucky’s only recent Powerball winner. Earlier this month, Kentucky Lottery announced a horse farmer from Murray had won more than $100,000 on the game.
The next Powerball drawing is due to take place Monday, March 17 at 11 p.m. EDT. The current jackpot stands at an estimated $398 million.
If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
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