Learn how Elizabeth Fuquay from Indiana and her strategy of Power Play and Double Play won her a $200,000 Powerball.
When we play Powerball, we all dream about what we would do if our numbers finally hit. But for Indiana resident Elizabeth Fuquay, that dream came to life in 2026. Her epic story is a good reminder that sometimes, simply sticking to your routine can pay off in the best way. And it’s another inspirational Powerball winner story for the books.
Many people wonder about the secret to winning the Powerball, but Fuquay’s approach was actually very down-to-Earth. Rather than blowing the budget, she’s a creature of no-nonsense habits. Every week, she purchases two Powerball tickets without fail.
Her special strategy? She plays Power Play and Double Play every… single… time. By paying a little bit extra for these add-ons, she tries to increase her chances of multiples and non-jackpot prizes.
As she put it, “I know how much I’m spending, and I don’t go over.” This methodical way of doing things proves that you don’t need to break the bank to win.
The big win happened on an ordinary Sunday morning. Fuquay and her husband were packing up the car to drive to Kentucky to visit family. Before hitting the road, she noticed the Powerball tickets they’d picked up while running errands the day before. Using the official Hoosier Lottery app, she scanned the tickets to see if they were holding any winners.
The screen gave her a message that said her prize was too large to cash out at a local retailer. Her reaction was so intense her husband panicked, later joking, “I thought someone in the family had died the way she was staring at her phone.”
Unable to see the exact prize amount on the app, they excitedly headed to a nearby gas station for more information. When the store couldn’t tell them anything more than the app already had, Fuquay called her sister in Kentucky to let her know they must’ve won a big prize and that they would be running a little late while they figured out what it was. Her sister quickly looked up the winning numbers online and gave Fuquay the life-changing news that she had won $200,000.
So, what did Fuquay and her husband do when they were handed a $200,000 check? They wasted no time in breaking out their wish lists. Fuquay and her husband plan to enjoy some fun shopping for clothing, accessories and car items, treat their son to a memorable family vacation, and invest the rest of the prize money for their future.
Like Fuquay, when you win the Powerball, there’s a timeline to consider before collecting. It all depends on the size of the prize you won.
For prizes under $600, you can typically get paid out immediately from the retailer from whom/where you bought your winning ticket.
If you win anywhere between $600 and $250,000, you’ll have to claim your cash at a lottery office, getting paid either the same day or within a few days.
For Jackpot prizes, it takes a bit more time due to the sheer logistics of moving the kind of money. After an initial 15-day waiting period, the winner can choose between a lump-sum cash prize (with a reduced amount paid upfront) and the full jackpot (including annual increases).
If the winner chooses the lump-sum cash amount, they can typically see that check arrive within two to six weeks. A full jackpot annuity is paid out annually over 30 years.
Fuquay’s story is proof that sticking to a budget and playing responsibly can eventually lead to the ultimate payout. So put a smile on your face and enjoy playing Powerball. You never know when it will be your turn to win.