Jackpots are popping nationwide as players score life-changing wins

Lottery players across the country are celebrating a wave of big wins this week, with lucky tickets turning everyday purchases into life-changing paydays. From scratch-off millionaires in New York to online jackpot winners in Virginia and North Carolina, players in several states recently walked away with prizes ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to multi-million-dollar jackpots.

Scratchers and Powerball pay out millions in New York

We kick things off in New York, with players heading to lottery headquarters after the holiday weekend and claiming $7 million in prizes. Here is a breakdown of those big wins:

• Mario Rodriguez Donis of Bedford Hills – He claimed a $3 million top prize on the $3,000,000 Max scratch-off game, which resulted in a single lump-sum payment totaling $1.36 million after required withholdings. He purchased the winning ticket at A Plus Mini Mart, located at 791 N. Bedford Rd.
• Jacques Mutombo of Elmont – He claimed a $2 million Powerball Power Play prize. During the March 23 drawing, Mutombo matched all five of the white balls drawn to win $1 million. He also added the optional $1 Power Play feature to his wager, which means his second-tier prize doubled to $2 million. Mutombo purchased the winning ticket at 7-Eleven, located at 207 Jericho Dr. in Mineola.
• Francine Fortune of Brooklyn – She claimed a $1 million top prize on the scratch-off game 50Extra. She received a single lump-sum payment of $416,325 after the required withholdings for the winning ticket purchased at 317 Marcus Garvey Liquors, located at 317 Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Brooklyn.
• Agnieszka Warchol of Ridgewood – She claimed a $1,000 a week for life top prize from the Win $1,000 a Week for Life scratch-off game, which guarantees a minimum payout of $1 million. Warchol opted for the minimum payout and received a single lump-sum payment of $429,595 after the required withholdings. The winning ticket was purchased at Bhakyi Sagar Grocery, located at 552 Woodward Ave. in Ridgewood.

Cash 5 jackpot winner in North Carolina

The big winners coming forward also took place in North Carolina, as Christopher Kern Sr. of High Point recently claimed his Cash 5 jackpot-winning ticket.

Kern took a chance on a $1 Quick Pick ticket he purchased online for the Cash 5 drawing on May 9. The winning numbers for that draw were 3, 6, 12, 16, and 39.

For matching all of the winning numbers, Kern won the $924,022 jackpot. He claimed his prize at lottery headquarters and took home $665,396 after the required federal and state tax withholdings.

Third time is the charm

In South Carolina, a Lowcountry man came close to winning the Palmetto Cash 5 jackpot two other times. He fell one number short, but he finally matched all the winning numbers during the May 19 drawing.

The winning numbers for the drawing were 3, 8, 14, 17, and 35. The lucky winner matched all the winning numbers this time to split the $514,000 jackpot with a lucky player in Dalzell. Each won $257,000, and the Lowecountry man said sharing is alright for him.

He added, “But maybe next time I'll get the entire jackpot.”

He purchased the winning ticket from Food Lion #706 in Georgetown, which received a commission of $2,570 from the state lottery for selling the winning ticket.

Big wins in Virginia

To round out the big wins, we also had three lucky players claim their big prizes in Virginia:

• Anonymous winner in Fredericksburg – He claimed his $1 million prize from the Bank a Million drawing on May 6. The winning numbers for that drawing were 6, 7, 20, 21, 26, and 39, and the Bonus Ball number was 24. The lucky winner matched all of the first six numbers, so he didn't need the Bonus Ball number. He purchased the ticket at 7-Eleven, located at 905 Lafayette Blvd. in Fredericksburg. For selling the winning ticket, they received a $10,000 bonus.
• Evelyn Giles of Blackstone – She was playing the Pantheon Payout: Tides online game at home when she hit the progressive jackpot, which was worth $469,353. She told lottery officials she couldn't believe it, and plans on investing her winnings.
• Kevin Jones of Lynchburg – He purchased the winning Cash 5 with EZ Match ticket online because something urged him to play that night. It worked out, as his Easy Pick ticket matched all the winning numbers for that May 5 drawing, securing the $215,000 jackpot for Jones. The winning numbers for that drawing were 30, 31, 37, 39, and 42.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.