Eight times North Carolina lottery winners hit the jackpot

The curated articles share recent stories of North Carolina lottery winners hitting jackpots through various games. Winners come from different backgrounds and play at locations across the state. They buy tickets at stores or online and often win large sums from small purchases.

A dad in Catawba County used a $1 ticket to win over $320,000 and plans to pay his son's college tuition. In Charlotte, a player who bought a Cash 5 game ticket online matched all five numbers to win more than $600,000. In Hudson, a woman spent 50 cents on a digital instant game and won a $307,493 jackpot. A Powerball player in Lexington stopped at a Shell station, spent $3 on a Quick Pick ticket with Power Play, and saw his prize grow to $100,000 after taxes. These stories show that lottery wins can happen both in person and online, and prizes can help people with savings or important life expenses.

A Tampa woman searched at a Florida airport was found to have $71,300 crammed into her clothes and $31,000 in her luggage, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

NO. 1: A 50-CENT LOTTERY TICKET BEAT 1 IN 62 MILLION ODDS FOR NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN

She spent the lowest amount possible, officials say. | Published September 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mark Price

NO. 2: POWERBALL PLAYER MISSES $172 MILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WINS BIG IN NORTH CAROLINA

Where was the lucky ticket sold? | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

Someone in Conway, SC won an over $300,000 lottery ticket, organizers announced on Thursday morning. By Simone Jasper

NO. 3: LOTTERY TICKET WORTH MORE THAN $600,000 IS SOLD IN NORTH CAROLINA. HERE’S WHERE

Here’s what to know about the big win. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

NO. 4: POWERBALL PLAYER MISSES JACKPOT BUT STILL WINS BIG IN NC. WHERE WAS THE TICKET SOLD?

The player was one number from scoring a $398 million jackpot prize. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

The federal government tracks awards like grants, loans and contracts in communities across the United States. Here’s what those grants fund in Horry County, South Carolina.

NO. 5: DAD TURNS $1 INTO ‘SURREAL’ NORTH CAROLINA LOTTERY PRIZE. ‘I CHECKED AND I CHECKED’

He plans to use the jackpot money to pay for his son’s college. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

NO. 6: LOTTERY PLAYER HITS THE JACKPOT IN NORTH CAROLINA. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

Here’s what to know about the big win. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

NO. 7: POWERBALL PLAYER KEPT CHECKING TICKET AFTER BIG NC WIN. ‘IT WASN’T REGISTERING’

“Of course, you always hope you are the one to win.” | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

NO. 8: LOTTERY TICKET WORTH $339,000 IS SOLD AT NORTH CAROLINA STORE. HERE’S WHERE

Here’s what to know about the big win. | Published June 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.