Man Wins $50,000; Misses $1.3 Billion Lottery Jackpot By One Number

Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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A Harrodsburg man won $50,000 playing Powerball. According to a press release from the Kentucky Lottery, the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was just one number off from winning the $1.3 billion jackpot.

“I usually only play when the jackpot is over a billion. You know, when it’s worth it,” the man joked.

The April 6 drawing was the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and the winner purchased ten Quick Pick Powerball plays at Kroger on South College Street. The supermarket will receive $500.

“The numbers were delayed so I checked them the next morning,” he said. “I saw I had matched the numbers but then verified the amount on the app.”

That’s when the man saw the $50,000 prize and was in disbelief.

“There was doubt,” he said. “This can’t be real!”

The player matched four of the white balls and the Powerball to win the game’s third prize of $50,000.

“The only number I missed was 44, I had 48 so I was just off by four,” the man said.

After taxes, the winner walked away with a check for $36,000. He plans to use some of the winnings on an upcoming trip and to pay off bills.

In addition, two $150,000 winning tickets were purchased at a Quick Shop in Paducah.

The Kentucky Lottery advises winners to:

• Sign the back of their tickets.

• Keep them in a secure location.

• Claim their prize within 180 days from the date of the drawing.

Winners must claim their prizes at lottery headquarters located at 1011 West Main Street in Louisville.In 2023, the Kentucky Lottery paid out more than $1.4 billion in prizes. Since 1989, proceeds from Kentucky Lottery tickets have raised more than $6.8 billion for good causes. Since 1999, Kentucky Lottery proceeds have funded more than $5 billion in scholarships and grants for Kentucky college students.

In 2023, $7,815,854 in lottery tickets were sold in Mercer County, according to the Kentucky Lottery. In that same year, statewide sales totaled $1,839,372,974, according to Lexington Herald-Leader, versus $1.4 billion in prizes paid out. For more information, visit kylottery.com.