9 surprising lottery stories that led to big wins

Lottery wins can illustrate the life-altering potential of chance. Stories of winners who missed jackpots but still secured substantial prizes, like a Powerball player tripling their winnings with a $1 Power Play, show how small decisions can maximize outcomes. Emotional narratives, such as a widow continuing a family lottery tradition or a Maryland man misplacing a sizable winning ticket, highlight the personal, sometimes whimsical journeys behind these moments of serendipity.

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

Alice Risden won a jackpot prize playing the $30,000 Crossword scratch-off game. Iowa Lottery

NO. 1: WOMAN CONTINUED LOTTERY TRADITION AFTER HUSBAND DIED — AND WINS BIG. ‘HE’D BE HAPPY’

The Iowa woman’s late husband previously won big in the lottery. “The picture is still on our refrigerator, so now, I can go right beside him.” | Published June 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Stunson

A Michigan couple was left stunned when they learned how much they won on a lottery ticket. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 2: ‘UTTER DISBELIEF.’ WIFE RETURNS FROM WALKING THE DOG TO HUSBAND HOLDING BIG LOTTO WIN

“I looked at the ticket and the winning numbers, and my whole body started tingling,” the Michigan woman said. | Published June 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Rodriguez

A lucky lottery player won $1 million during the Mega Millions June 14 drawing. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 3: MEGA MILLIONS PLAYER WINS BIG IN NEW JERSEY. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

The player was one number short of winning the jackpot. | Published June 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

A Powerball player in Georgia scored a big win in the lottery game’s latest drawing. Photo by Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash

NO. 4: POWERBALL PLAYER NARROWLY MISSES $57 MILLION JACKPOT, BUT STILL WINS BIG IN GEORGIA

Check your tickets! | Published June 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

Powerball tickets sold in Arizona and Tennessee matched five numbers to win big, just missing the $92 million jackpot. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 5: POWERBALL PLAYERS JUST MISS $92 MILLION JACKPOT — BUT STILL WIN BIG

The winning tickets matched five numbers but not the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published July 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

The man won a $32,400 prize, lottery officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 6: LOTTERY WINNER FINDS ‘PERFECT SPOT’ TO HIDE MARYLAND TICKET. THEN, HE CAN’T FIND IT

The man nearly forgot about it until his wife reminded him, Maryland lottery officials said. | Published July 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura

A lottery player revealed a life-changing win, but her husband thought she was pranking him. Maryland Lottery

NO. 7: LOTTERY PLAYER REVEALS LIFE-CHANGING WIN — BUT HUSBAND THINKS SHE’S ‘PRANKING HIM’

“This is unbelievable. What a feeling!” | Published February 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger

An Orlando man won a jackpot prize of $1 million in a scratch-off game he bought at a local 7-Eleven, the Florida Lottery announced. Getty Images/iStockphoto

NO. 8: LOTTERY PLAYER TURNS $5 INTO LIFE-CHANGING PRIZE AT FLORIDA 7-ELEVEN. HERE’S WHERE

The odds of winning jackpot in the game are 1-in-2,963,170. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Olivia Lloyd

A Michigan woman won a jackpot prize when she decided to play a game advertised to her through email. GETTY IMAGES

NO. 9: LOTTERY PLAYER WAS READY TO CASH OUT, THEN WINS LIFE-CHANGING PRIZE IN MICHIGAN

“Are you sure you have the comma in the right place?” | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rhiannon Saegert

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.