Semi-Retired Real Estate Agent Lands Powerball Payday

Claims $50,000 prize in Jan. 16 drawing

Playing Maryland Lottery games weekly is routine for a Howard County man. Winning big, however, is not, and the happy real estate agent just claimed a $50,000 prize on a Powerball quick-pick ticket.

The lucky player found his winning ticket at 7-Eleven #39193 located at 4882 Montgomery Road in Ellicott City.

“I don’t chase the jackpot if it’s below six figures,” the winner said, and the jackpot for the Jan. 16 drawing had rolled to $640 million. Although he didn’t win the jackpot, the lucky man was one of two Marylanders to win the $50,000 third-tier prize and among 97 third-tier winners nationwide.

A few days after buying his Quick Pick ticket, the jackpot chaser checked his ticket against the drawing’s winning numbers listed on the Maryland Lottery website. He always looks for the Powerball number first and then checks the other numbers.

“Oh my gosh,” the happy winner recalls saying to himself as he slowly realized he had matched several numbers. He then FaceTimed his two daughters and shared the great news, which he said was first met by silence and then followed by shock. The real estate agent of 40 years plans to share his winnings with his daughters and will also take a family vacation.

Want to try your luck with the Powerball drawing tonight? You still have time to buy tickets and try to win the $20 million jackpot. The cash option is $15 million.