A Grandma of 11 Claims Her $50,000 Powerball Prize

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  • Author:
    Shaun Greer
  • Published:
    08/07/2025

Pamela James, a grandmother of 11 from Indianapolis, couldn’t believe her eyes when her Powerball ticket turned into a $50,000 win.

Powerball winners often experience disbelief when they discover that they’ve won a substantial cash prize. But when that reality sinks in, and they finally accept that their life is going to change in a big way, it’s truly a magical moment. For one Indiana grandmother of 11, her $50,000 Powerball win was almost unbelievable. From disbelief to celebration, her Powerball winner story is a reminder that even everyday grandmas can become winners, and even non-jackpot prizes can be monumental.

A Quick Check of Her Quick Pick

Pamela was getting ready to head out for a basketball game when she casually checked her Quick Pick ticket using the Hoosier Lottery’s mobile app. But instead of the usual “Not a winner” message, something unexpected appeared: a prompt telling her to contact the Hoosier Lottery directly.

“I didn’t believe it,” she said.

Maybe the app was mistaken. Or maybe Pamela scanned her ticket wrong. Either way, she wasn’t convinced that her Powerball ticket was worth anything.

Not Quite Ready to Be a Believer

Still unsure of what the app message meant, Pamela turned to her husband. Together, they looked at the ticket and tried to make sense of what they were seeing. It didn’t feel real.

So they did what any reasonable person might do. They drove to their local Meijer store in Indianapolis, where Pamela had purchased the ticket. She headed straight for the counter and asked the cashier and a few nearby customers to take a look.

Their reaction? “You need to go to the Hoosier Lottery office right away!”

Even then, Pamela wasn’t fully convinced. “I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It didn’t feel like it was happening to me.”

Plans for Memories with Her Winning Prize

The moment it finally sank in came via social media. Pamela came across a Hoosier Lottery post online about a $50,000 Powerball winner at the exact Meijer store where she had bought her ticket. The winning numbers were familiar.

That was it. It clicked. The post was about her. She really was a winner.With excitement finally catching up to her disbelief, Pamela made her way to the Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment Office in Indianapolis to officially claim her $50,000 prize.

She plans to take a holiday trip to French Lick, Indiana, to experience the beloved Polar Express Train Ride, a magical holiday tradition that’s sure to delight all her grandchildren. And the rest of the winnings? It’s going straight into savings.

Everyday People, Extraordinary Wins

Pamela’s story is a perfect reminder that Powerball wins don’t just happen to people on the news or halfway across the country. They happen to everyday folks, like a grandmother making a pit stop at Meijer before a basketball game.

With a Quick Pick ticket and a bit of luck, Pamela turned a regular afternoon into an unforgettable win. And while it wasn’t the jackpot, her $50,000 prize still made a huge impact.

Could You Be the Next Powerball Prize Winner?

Pamela certainly didn’t expect to win a sizable Powerball prize. In fact, she almost didn’t believe she had. But her story is a powerful reminder. Always check your ticket. You never know when luck might strike. And even if you don’t win the Powerball jackpot, you could win one of the other combinations of prizes, worth just as much excitement.

So, if you’ve got a Powerball ticket in your pocket or purse, scan it. Double-check it with a scan at your local, authorized Powerball retailer. And if that screen ever says, “Contact the Lottery,” don’t brush it off. It means you’ve won more than just a few bucks.

Your own Powerball moment might be one scan away.

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