Lucky Powerball Player Comes Forward to Claim $209.3 Million Jackpot

A Powerball player in North Carolina has come forward to claim the $209.3 million jackpot from the latest drawing earlier this week, though the lucky winner has chosen to remain anonymous.

Powerball Winner Claims Their Prize

The winner went to the lottery office on Thursday to claim the prize. Under lottery rules, the individual elected to remain anonymous for 90 days, a provision that allows winners to manage the process privately. The waiting period gives the winner time to plan and make decisions without public attention. The jackpot fell on Monday, with the lucky ticket being sold at West 10th Mart on West 10th Street in Roanoke Rapids.

Lottery officials confirmed that all required checks were completed before the payout was issued. No personal information about the winner has been disclosed, and the lottery has released only limited details about the claim.

The winner chose to receive the prize as a single upfront payment instead of annual installments, an option commonly referred to as the lump sum. Before taxes, the lump sum totaled $95.3 million, but after federal and state taxes were factored in, the winner took home $68.6 million – still a huge sum.

Many lottery winners prefer the lump sum because it provides immediate access to the funds. This win is especially significant as it ranks as the second-largest lottery prize ever claimed in North Carolina. Only one jackpot in the state’s history has surpassed it – a $158 million lump sum after taxes claimed by Charles W. Jackson Jr. back in 2019.

The lottery has not disclosed how the winner intends to spend the money. Typically, winners take time to consult with financial professionals before making major decisions. Whatever the winner decides to do with the prize, however, the fact that someone’s life has been changed forever remains.

The Store that Sold the Lucky Ticket Will Also Get a Bonus 

The lucky player isn’t the only one who will see a reward, as the Roanoke Rapids, where the ticket was sold, will also receive a $50,000 bonus from the Powerball lottery. Stores that sell winning tickets often get such bonuses. In addition, this is essentially free advertising for these stores, and many of them often get an uptick in customers after such an event.

Powerball drawings are held multiple times each week, and when there is no winner, the jackpot quickly increases, which led to the current prize pool. Lottery officials reminded players that they should sign the back of their ticket as soon as it is purchased to help safeguard the ticket in case it is lost.