15 Powerball players win big but miss the jackpot prize

Powerball players come close to huge sums but still walk away with substantial prizes, such as a $1 million win in Michigan or a player in North Carolina just missing a $1.03 billion jackpot but still winning big.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

A lottery ticket sold in California matched five numbers in the Powerball — but missed the $850 million jackpot by just one number.

NO. 1: ‘AM I SEEING THIS RIGHT?’ MAN JUMPS OUT OF BED WHEN HE SEES POWERBALL PRIZE IN MICHIGAN

“It took a few minutes for it to sink in,” he told lottery officials. | Published January 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kate Linderman

A Kansas resident won $1 million after the Powerball numbers drawn on Wednesday matched his ticket.

NO. 2: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN MARYLAND BUT STILL EYES JACKPOT. ‘JUST AFTER THE BIG MONEY’

“It’s going to come.” | Published January 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

A Powerball player in Virginia narrowly missed a jackpot worth $534 million, but they still won $1 million in the March 11 drawing.

NO. 3: POWERBALL PLAYER NARROWLY MISSES $534 MILLION JACKPOT, BUT STILL WINS BIG IN VIRGINIA

The winner took home the highest prize in the March 11 drawing. | Published March 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

FILE - A display panel advertises tickets for a Powerball drawing at a convenience store, Nov. 7, 2022, in Renfrew, Pa. On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, Powerball losers in Iowa were actually winners for about seven hours after the state’s lottery mistakenly posted the wrong winning numbers for the game. Lottery officials blamed an unspecified “human reporting error” for the wrong numbers being posted for Monday night’s Powerball drawing. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

NO. 4: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS $2 MILLION IN GEORGIA. WHERE WAS THE WINNING TICKET SOLD?

Check your tickets! | Published March 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

The Powerball lottery is up to $1.09 billion

NO. 5: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN NEW JERSEY. WHERE WAS THE WINNING TICKET SOLD?

The winning ticket matched five numbers but not the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published March 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

FILE - A display panel advertises tickets for a Powerball drawing at a convenience store, Nov. 7, 2022, in Renfrew, Pa. The Mega Millions jackpot is already estimated at a whopping $875 million for Tuesday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Friday night, March 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

NO. 6: POWERBALL PLAYER JUST MISSES $813 MILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WINS BIG IN FLORIDA

Here’s where the lucky ticket was sold. | Published March 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

An 18-year-old Maryland man won a lottery prize from a ticket purchased by his father.

NO. 7: POWERBALL PLAYER JUST MISSES NEARLY $1 BILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WINS BIG IN LOUISIANA

The winning ticket matched five numbers but not the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published March 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

NO. 8: POWERBALL PLAYER JUST MISSES $1.03 BILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WINS BIG IN FLORIDA

Here’s where the winning ticket was sold. | Published April 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

NO. 9: POWERBALL PLAYER JUST MISSES $1.03 BILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WINS BIG IN NC

The win comes after another life-changing ticket was sold in the state. | Published April 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

A Tampa woman searched at a Florida airport was found to have $71,300 crammed into her clothes and $31,000 in her luggage, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

NO. 10: SON GIFTS HIS MOM A POWERBALL TICKET — AND SHE WINS BIG. ‘YOU ARE KIDDING, RIGHT?

The son gave the ticket to his mom while he was going on vacation, according to the Virginia Lottery. | Published April 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

Un boleto ganador valorado en $44 millones está punto de expirar en la Florida. Hasta ahora, nadie lo ha reclamado.

NO. 11: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN GEORGIA. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

It’s the latest in a string of lottery wins for the Peach State. | Published April 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

NO. 12: NO ONE WINS POWERBALL JACKPOT IN LATEST DRAWING. WHAT’S THE NEW TOP PRIZE?

More than 610,000 people across the United States won prizes ranging from $4 to $150,000. | Published June 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

Is it time for a job change? Check out these government positions.

NO. 13: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN CALIFORNIA. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

The ticket matched five numbers but not the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

A South Carolina man finally knows what it feels like to win the lottery, according to a news release from the state lottery agency.

NO. 14: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN MICHIGAN. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

The winning ticket matched five numbers but not the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

A South Carolina woman won $300,000 on a scratch-off ticket three years after winning a $250,000 lottery prize, lottery officials said.

NO. 15: POWERBALL PLAYER NARROWLY MISSES $57 MILLION JACKPOT, BUT STILL WINS BIG IN GEORGIA

Check your tickets! | Published June 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.