This is the ultimate Powerball winner story about beginner’s luck and how one Powerball player got $90 million richer with her first-ever play.
Anyone who’s ever won a Powerball jackpot will tell you their first reaction to aligning those matching numbers was a sheer and total surprise. It's an exciting prospect for anyone who plays. And winning can seem like a long shot. It can feel like an out-of-reach outcome sometimes, playing Powerball and then later finding out that you’ve won.
But for one Seattle woman a few years ago, her Powerball win was an even bigger surprise than just learning she had a winning ticket. In this Powerball winner story, and for this particular Powerball player, taking home her jackpot prize was even more of a dream come true and extra unique because it was the first time she’d ever purchased a Powerball ticket. It was a case of Powerball-playing beginner's luck that proved to be worth $90 million.
Playing Powerball for the First Time
Lisa Quam, a South Seattle resident, found herself in the spotlight back in 2014. She and her husband, Everett, were officially photographed holding a giant Powerball jackpot check for $90 million. And in addition to the surge of millions into their bank account, the other unique dynamic about their situation is that this winning Powerball ticket was the first time they’d ever played.
The Quams bought two Powerball tickets on Thanksgiving day when they ran to their local grocery store in Auburn, Washington. They intended to grab the newspaper and some pumpkin spice. But at the last minute, Lisa Quam also decided to play Powerball. When they returned home, Quam put her two tickets neatly on the refrigerator and waited for Saturday night’s drawing.
The couple managed to match six correct numbers in the Powerball multi-state drawing. Upon realizing she had a winning ticket, Quam told reporters that she yelled at her family to “get up here!” She said they all thought she was mad about something, and her daughter sighed and said, “Is this an emergency?” Quam said laughingly that she told her, “YES!” Believing she was about to call a family meeting to express frustration about household chores or something, her family jumped for joy in excitement when they finally learned why Mom had been so intense. And the rest is history, making the Quam family $90 million richer.
Quitting Her Job
Upon winning, Quam was, of course, elated and shocked at her good fortune. And one of the first steps she took was to quit her job at Boeing Co., the airplane manufacturer where she’d worked for years. In a public statement, Quam admitted to having emailed her coworkers and friends that while it had been a pleasure working with them, they should tune into the local news to understand just why she was emailing them this notice.
Beginner’s Luck Turned Life-Changing Event
In addition to winning the Powerball jackpot with her first Powerball ticket purchase ever, Lisa Quam was also the first Powerball jackpot winner in Washington state. The lump sum of the $90 million prize, after taxes, would result in a rough take-home amount of $56.8 million.
Quam said they had plans to use their windfall to first take care of some bills, including paying off student loans. She also said they might buy a new house and planned to travel more. And one of her first significant purchases was a new car - a Subaru Forester she’d always wanted.
Lisa Quam’s story of beginner’s Powerball luck that made her a $90 million winner can be an inspiration for everyone who plays. Whether it’s your first time playing or your hundredth, your odds of winning are the same. And anyone can become a winner!