Late Purchase Leads to $2 million Powerball Win

Winning a Powerball prize can be a bit of a shock. Even more so if you believed you hadn’t even bought a ticket for the draw. That’s what happened to Elizabeth Johnson from Lucama in North Carolina, when winning $2 million in the May 22 draw.

The aim had been to enter the May 19 draw, but the deadline was just missed by a single minute. The Quick Pick ticket that was purchased missed the intended draw but was valid for the one on May 22. Not that Elizabeth knew that was the case and the surprise of her life was just days away.

What a Shock

“It was definitely a shock!" Johnson said as she recalled the moment her big Powerball win was discovered. “When I got the message saying that I had won, I thought, 'Well, I didn't even play tonight.'" Now that is a surprise!

Her ticket had managed to match all of the five white balls. Just imagine how she’d have felt if also getting the Powerball and winning the $219.9 million jackpot. The numbers that made her a lottery millionaire were 03-19-27-37-40. The Powerball that wasn’t matched was 08.

After federal and state taxes payments have been made, the winner has received $1,415,001. The Powerball winner has already revealed just how she intends spending her winnings. A new house is definitely on her spending list.

Disneyland Here We Come!

The winner works as an interpreter but is planning  a bit of time away from her job. "The kids want to go to Disneyland," Johnson said. "We've never been and now we'll get to."

Her ticket didn’t win the Powerball jackpot, but someone did in the draw held on June 5. One lucky ticket sold in Florida won the massive $285 million top prize. A ticket sold in Puerto Rico also had good fortune, winning its owner(s) $1 million.

The next Powerball draw is tonight, and the top prize is $20 million. Make sure that you get your tickets in time for the draw.

Buy your Powerball tickets online from Lottery24.