Oregon veteran Aaron Bendickson’s $2 Powerball ticket became a $1 million win, and a powerful story of faith and transformation.
For Aaron Bendickson of Warrenton, Oregon, playing Powerball wasn’t just a hobby, but a part of a larger journey. The 48-year-old Army veteran had faced serious health challenges, made intentional changes to his life, and turned a normal activity into something remarkable: a $1 million Powerball win!
Bendickson was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. His time in the service was cut short at age 23 when he was diagnosed with skin cancer. Since then, he has battled other health challenges, including brain cancer and multiple surgeries through the years. Despite it all, he maintained his strong faith and remained hopeful, grounded, and committed to living a better life.
In 2022, Bendickson made the life-changing decision to quit smoking. He began to use his cigarette money to buy Oregon Lottery Scratch-its and Quick Pick draw games instead. This small, positive change in his daily habits led to something incredible: his $1 million Powerball win.
Bendickson bought his Powerball ticket from Main Street Market, his local spot to play lottery games. He didn’t know he was holding a winning ticket in his hands until he scanned his ticket at the store. He matched five numbers, winning Powerball’s second-tier prize of $1 million.
Bendickson plans to use his winnings towards buying a new home. And, he wants to surprise his son by paying off his car loan. He also shared that he sees the win as a form of reward for the positive changes he’s made in his life, especially quitting smoking and focusing on better habits.
Many people think you need to match all six numbers, including the Powerball, to win big. But Powerball’s second-tier prize offers a huge payout if you match just the five white balls, even without the Powerball itself.
In Bendickson’s case, this gave him a cool $1 million. Had he gotten the optional Power Play multiplier when he purchased his ticket, his prize could have jumped to $2 million.
Even without hitting the jackpot, hitting the five numbers is one of the biggest prizes the game has to offer, and it’s happened more often than most people think. These second-tier wins create new opportunities, offer financial relief, and change lives every year, often in the most unexpected places.
Bendickson’s win is a good reminder to check your ticket. Many Powerball winners do not know they’ve won until they check at a retail terminal, online, or on their state’s mobile app for the lottery.
There are prizes that go unclaimed each year, and that includes big ones. Whether it’s a small match or a million-dollar win, it pays to check carefully. After all, a quick scan or visit to your local retailer could reveal life-changing news.
Bendickson is an example of what Powerball is all about. It is not always about yachts or the mega mansions or the cameras in your face. Sometimes it’s just about a normal person, in a normal town, who gets a little unexpected joy at the right time in life.
His story is a reminder that persistence, a good attitude, and some faith can go a long way.
Everyone who purchases a Powerball ticket has a chance to win big, no matter who you are or where you are from. Play Powerball today to see where your $2 ticket might take you. Bendickson’s story started at his local store. Yours could, too.