Powerball player just misses $250 million prize, still wins big in North Carolina
A Powerball player just missed a $250 million jackpot — but is still set to get richer in North Carolina.
The player bought a ticket that matched all but one number picked in the July 14 drawing, making it worth $50,000, according to the N.C. Education Lottery website.
The winning numbers: white balls 8-12-45-46-63, with red Powerball 24.
So, where was the lucky ticket sold? It came from the Publix grocery store in Hickory, a roughly 60-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte, lottery officials wrote in an email to McClatchy News and on the social media platform X.
The winner has a lot to celebrate after their $2 ticket matched four of the white balls and the red ball. The ticket was one number from hitting the jackpot, which stood at an estimated $250 million the night of the drawing, according to the Powerball website.
Lottery officials told McClatchy News about the $50,000 win early July 15, before the lucky ticket holder would have been able to claim their prize in person. In North Carolina, Powerball winners have about six months to come forward, rules show.
What to know about Powerball
To score the jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.
The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338.
Tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times and price vary by state.
Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.
Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
