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.