Powerball surprise: Traverse City woman wins $1 million

Lady Luck smiled on a Traverse City, Michigan, resident recently.

Kristina Love, 74, is a brand new millionaire after winning a $1 million in the Powerball drawing on August 24, 2024.

Love, a regular Fantasy 5 player, decided to buy a Powerball ticket on a whim during a trip to her local Family Fare on East 8th Street. The winning ticket matched all five white balls (5, 15, 21, 24, 43), propelling Love into the winner's circle.

She said, “Early the next morning, I checked my ticket and when I saw I won $1 million, I started screaming. My son ran into the room thinking something was wrong, until I said: ‘I just won $1 million!’ I must have looked the numbers over five more times after that to make sure I wasn’t mistaken.”

Love plans to use her winnings to purchase a new home and share the joy with her family.

Thinking of trying your luck at Powerball?

Here's what you need to know:

• Powerball tickets cost $2 each and can be purchased at Michigan Lottery retailers across the state or online at MichiganLottery.com.
• Want to potentially multiply your non-jackpot prize? Add the Power Play option for $1 to your ticket. The multiplier can go up to 10 times, maxing out at $2 million!
• If you are feeling extra lucky, include Double Play for an additional $1. This gives you a second chance to win up to $10 million in a separate drawing.

Powerball drawings happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. You can also watch it live online.

Big winners in Michigan

Michigan has seen a surge of Powerball winners in 2024, with several lucky players claiming million-dollar prizes. Here are some notable winners:

• A Family Fare store in Traverse City sold a winning ticket worth $1 million on August 23.
• Another Family Fare store in Grand Rapids had a lucky customer win $1 million on June 11.
• Someone playing online from Union won $1 million on April 5.
• Paris Spirits & Wine in Kentwood sold a winning ticket worth $1 million on March 29.
• Andale Mexican Grill & Cantina in Commerce Township sold a winning ticket worth $1 million on March 1.

Helping Michigan schools

Nearly 97 cents of every dollar spent on lottery tickets goes back to the state. This contributes to the School Aid Fund, prizes for players, and commissions for vendors. In 2023 alone, the lottery provided over $1.3 billion to Michigan public schools, marking their fifth contribution exceeding $1 billion. Since its launch in 1972, the Michigan Lottery has contributed $28 billion to support public education in the state.