News writer
A lucky Kentucky Lottery player won a $ 1 million second prize with a Powerball ticket purchased for the December 20 drawing. The ticket was purchased from a Walmart located at Gateway Crossing Boulevard in Radcliff. The winning numbers were 27, 35, 41, 56, 60 and Powerball number 16.
The Radcliff resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, was checking his numbers the morning after the drawing when he saw that his Powerball ticket matched the five winning white ball numbers. He also won a $7 prize on another line.
Excited about his terrific win, he immediately called his wife at work to share his news. In an interview with the Kentucky Lottery, he said:
I told her, ‘I think I'm having a heart attack.‘ ‘Oh my god, do I need to call 911,‘ she asked. I told her, ‘No, I think I won the lottery. We just won a million dollars!‘
Just to make certain, the lucky winner checked his Powerball ticket with his glasses on, took them off, and checked it again just to make sure he was seeing correctly. His wife calmed him down and said she’d come home at lunchtime and confirm their win.
The couple traveled to the Kentucky Lottery head office to claim their win. They brought home a check for $715,005 after taxes. They plan to use their winnings to pay off their house and purchase a home for their son.
“It sure is a merry Christmas,” his wife said.
The Powerball jackpot continues to grow
No one won the Christmas Day Powerball jackpot win the winning numbers 5, 12, 20, 24, 29 and Powerball number 4. That means that the jackpot prize has grown to $685 million. Although no one managed to get all six numbers, three players in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and California matched five numbers to win $1 million each. Also, two players in Georgia and Colorado matched five numbers and also had the Power Play feature, which boosted their winnings to $2 million.
Previous Christmas Day Powerball winners
The Powerball drawing doesn't often coincide with Christmas Day. In the history of Powerball, which began in 1992, there have only been three jackpot winners drawn during the Christmas holiday. The last time was on December 25, 2013. On that day, a lucky Powerball player in Missouri won a $71.5 million jackpot. The winning numbers were 23, 28, 38, 39, 56, and Powerball number 32.
Watch out for the next Powerball drawing
Powerball drawings take place each Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The drawing is held in the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, from where it is broadcast live. Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Good luck playing Powerball, and remember to play responsibly.
