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N.C. Powerball Jackpot Jumps To $256.8M Cash Value

Feb. 6, 2015. Players trying their luck in Saturday’s Powerball drawing have the chance to win a $380 million annuity or a $256.8 million cash prize. It is the largest jackpot in a year and the sixth largest in the game’s history.

Powerball paid off in a big way this week for Robert and Valerie Murphy of Goldsboro, who matched all five white balls in Wednesday’s drawing to win a $1 million prize. “We’re paying everything off,” said. Valerie. “The house, the car, the boat…everything. I’m so excited.” {Read More}

The highest Powerball jackpot ever occurred in May 2013 when the annuity was $590.5 million. Since 2006, North Carolina has had three Powerball jackpot winners who won between $74.5 million and $141.4 million.

Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at a $49 million annuity or $33.1 million cash value. Two North Carolina Mega Millions players have won jackpots ranging from $12 million to $57 million.

Big Winner Report

Richard Wyant of Marshall in Madison County won $750,000 after buying a lucky Jumbo Bucks ticket at BJ’s Food Mart on Michigan Avenue in Asheville. {Read More}

In the eastern part of the state, Horace Glass of Plymouth matched all five numbers in the Feb. 2 Carolina Cash 5 drawing to win the $217,901 jackpot. {Read More}

From Jan. 30 through Feb. 5, lottery players across the state won more than $26 million in prizes. Instant players won more than $18.8 million and draw game players won $7.4 million, including $5.7 million from North Carolina draw games Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5 and All or Nothing. Since last weekend’s drawings, Mega Millions and Powerball players won more than $1.7 million in prizes.

Carolina Pick 3 players won more than $3.9 million in prizes this week. The Jan. 31 evening drawing’s 1-1-7 number combination resulted in $788,495 in prizes to more than 3,600 tickets.

Nineteen players scratched or matched for wins of $10,000 to $50,000. In alphabetical order by the winner’s hometown, they are:

Hometown                      Winner                                Prize Won                        Game Played/Draw Date

Chapel Hill                     Erika Munoz                    $30,000                          $30,000 Payday!

Connelly Springs            Jonathan Holden              $20,000                          Powerball / 2-4-15

Durham                          Alma Suggs                     $25,000                          $200,000 Gold Rush

Erwin                             Larry Jenkins                   $50,000                          $200 Million Blowout

Fayetteville                    Wendy Alexander             $10,000                          20X The Cash

Fayetteville                    Martin Hughes                 $10,000                          $4,000,000 Multiplier Spectacular

Fayetteville                    Corey Jones                    $10,000                          $120 Million Cash

Gastonia                        Randall Messer                $10,000                          EZ Money

Holly Ridge                    Krystena Mortenson         $10,000                          $200 Million Blowout

Kannapolis                     Edward Norkett                $10,000                          $120 Million Cash

New Bern                       Esther Creger                  $10,000                          $200 Million Blowout

Raleigh                          David Bagwell                  $10,000                          50X The Cash

Raleigh                          Djuan Barbour                  $10,000                          Millionaire 7’s

Reidsville                       Crystal Wampler              $10,000                          Powerball / 2-4-15

Robbins                         David Foxx                      $10,000                          Jumbo Bucks

Rutherfordton                 Kenneth Linder                 $10,000                          Millionaire 7’s

Sylva                             Priscilla Caldwell             $10,000                          Powerball / 1-28-15

Tarboro                          James Powell                  $50,000                          Powerball / 1-28-15

Yadkinville                     Johnny Gregory               $10,000                          Millionaire 7’s

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.6 billion for the state. Net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, for school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.