From cleaning out cars to chasing dreams, discover the strangest and most unforgettable ways real Powerball winners found out they’d struck it rich.
For most of us, winning the Powerball would be enough of a shock. But for these lucky players, the way they learned the news was just as jaw-dropping as the win itself. Here are five unforgettable real-life moments where Powerball winners realized they had spectacularly beaten the odds.
When a Golf Trip Becomes a Payday
One man took a golf trip for a few days and decided to continue his routine of buying a Powerball ticket. Turns out, golf balls weren’t the only thing flying that weekend. So were his winnings! Sticking with his regular numbers paid off when he matched 4 white balls, and thanks to the Power Play, he received a payout of $150,000. He was able to use his winnings to add to his daughter’s college fund.
Cleaning the Car Means Cleaning Up the Winnings
Straw wrappers, napkins, and receipts… The nooks and crannies of our cars have seen it all. While cleaning out his car one day, a man spotted a month-old Powerball ticket sitting under the junk that had piled up on his dashboard. When he scanned the stub, he was stunned to see that he had won a $2-million jackpot. What looks like clutter could actually be a winning ticket in disguise. This man went on to use his winnings to invest in rental properties.
A Laundry List of Reasons to Check Your Tickets
Two near misses make this Powerball winner’s story incredible. Just before tossing his clothes into the wash, Maricus decided to check his pockets. It’s lucky he did, because he found an old Powerball ticket. Just as he was about to throw it away with the pocket lint, he stopped and thought to check the numbers first. Maricus discovered that he had won a staggering $387,450. He went to cash in his ticket right away, but was still deciding how to celebrate with his winnings.
Dreaming of Winning It All
Months before the $60 million Powerball draw, a retiree had a vivid dream. In the dream, he and a friend had gone into a Powerball draw together and won $40 million. From then on, whenever the jackpot got over $40 million, the man would buy a ticket. When the jackpot got to $60 million, he bought a ticket using some numbers he had used off and on for over 10 years. Lo and behold, he had won the $60 million Powerball jackpot. It was almost as if he had manifested himself winning his millions. With the winnings, the man’s priorities were to support his loved ones and honor his late mother by buying her favorite, vintage car.
Stolen Card is Actually a Stroke of Luck
Usually, having your car broken into is a bad thing. But for Jean-David, it happened to be one of the best things that had happened to him. Two thieves had stolen Jean-David’s credit card from his car and used the card to buy a few things at a bar the same day. Among the items was a Powerball ticket. It turned out to be a winning ticket worth 500,000 euros! Jean-David decided not to press charges and, amazingly, wants to split the winnings with the thieves. He hopes the men will come forward to claim their share of the prize. With his own half, he wants to build a new house with his wife.
Whether you're a regular player or have a few tickets lying around, these stories prove that you can never guess when luck might find you. Keep an eye on those numbers and your Powerball tickets.