ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — A lucky Kentucky woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, received a check for $1,440,000 after purchasing a Powerball ticket where she matched five numbers and doubled her winnings.
While the jackpot was an estimated $572 million for the Dec. 20 drawing, she won the game's second prize of $1 million by matching five white ball numbers. She also added the Power Play feature for an additional $1 per set of numbers, doubling her winnings to $2 million.
“I’m so glad I did. I always play Power Play,” she told lottery officials.
The woman said she didn't realize she had the winning ticket until she stopped at a store on her way home from work three days later.
“I scanned it and saw the number come up and it said, ‘see KLC’. I scanned it again and so I said, well, I guess that means I hit the five numbers but not the Powerball," she said. "I'm still soaking it in."
She told officials she put the ticket in a drawer and waited until after the holidays to cash it in.
The Hardin County woman showed up at lottery headquarters in Louisville last Wednesday, where she received a check for $1,440,000 after taxes.
“It was a blessing in disguise,” she said.
She said she plans to use the winnings towards home renovations. “This gives me what I need.”
The Five Star on North Dixie in Radcliff, where the winning ticket was sold, will receive $20,000.
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