When the multi-state games Mega Millions and Powerball have jackpots that are starting to get big, a Prince George’s County woman takes notice. Such was the case after the Valentine’s Day weekend when the estimated Powerball jackpot had grown to $154 million for the Feb. 16 drawing. The Greenbelt jackpot chaser bought five Powerball combinations, a $10 purchase, and missed the jackpot by one number.
But her match of four of five white balls plus the red Powerball was good enough for a $50,000 third-tier prize. She claimed the prize Feb. 20 at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore and told the tale of her win.
The soft-spoken winner was having a fun evening out with her husband at American Legion Post 136 in Greenbelt when good fortune joined the party. While having drinks and dinner on Feb. 16, she remembered the jackpots were still rolling, so she and her husband each bought Powerball tickets for the that night’s drawing and stashed them away for a few days.
It wasn’t until Wednesday, Feb. 18, that the win was realized.
“My husband checked the tickets first thinking it was only $100,” she shared with Lottery officials. “But, when I scanned it using my phone, that message popped up with the confetti saying it was $50,000.”
“I can’t believe I missed the jackpot by only one number,” the excited winner said.
Even so, the winner and her husband are elated about their $50,000 win. The celebrated and later shared the good news with their children. When visiting Lottery headquarters to claim the prize, she said she plans to spend the winnings on some projects at home and will most likely save the rest.
They bought the winning ticket at the Post 136 at 6900 Greenbelt Road in Greenbelt.
