Current:Home > reviewsMichigan woman’s handpicked numbers win $1M on Powerball. She found out on Facebook. -Wealth Axis Pro
Michigan woman’s handpicked numbers win $1M on Powerball. She found out on Facebook.
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:12:21
A Michigan woman was aimlessly scrolling through Facebook when she learned that she won $1 million on the Powerball.
Jennifer Vackaro, 50, of White Lake, about 60 miles east of Lansing, decided to buy a Powerball ticket at Andale Mexican Grill & Cantina on Carroll Lake Road in Commerce Township, according to a press release by the Michigan Lottery.
"My fiancé and I were at Andale, and he was playing Club Keno, so I decided to play Powerball," Vackaro told lottery officials. "Usually I play easy pick numbers, but since we were just hanging out having a drink, I decided to take the time to pick my own numbers."
Kentucky man says lottery win:Helped pull him out of debt 'for the first time in my life'
Little did Vackaro know that choosing her own numbers would make her a millionaire.
For the drawing on March 2, white balls were 3, 18, 27, 36 and 53. Those were the numbers Vackaro handpicked.
"The next morning, I was scrolling Facebook and saw a post about a winning Powerball ticket that was sold at Andale," Vackaro said. "The post had the winning numbers, and I recognized them right away. I scanned my ticket on the Lottery App and when $1 million came up on the screen with confetti, I couldn't stop shaking! I called my daughters and my fiancé to tell them the good news."
Vackaro plans to celebrate her Powerball win with family
After taking a trip to the Michigan Lottery Headquarters to claim her prize, Vackaro told lottery officials how she plans to spend the $1 million prize.
With the money, Vackaro plans to take her family on a trip and then save the rest.
Vackaro told lottery officials that knowing about her Powerball win has made an impact om her daily activities.
“I have been in a complete fog the last few days,” Vackaro said. “I haven’t been able to eat or sleep because I’ve been so nervous and excited!”
How to play the Powerball
In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you'll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store - and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.
Players can also ask a cashier for a "Quick Pick" where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.
Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there's no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.
When is the next Powerball drawing?
The next Powerball drawing is on March 13. The estimated jackpot is worth $559 million. If there is a winner after Wednesday's drawing and they choose the cash option, they could take home $273.3 million, according to the lottery.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball?
The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are one in 292.2 million, according to the lottery.
The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are roughly one in 24.9.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
veryGood! (99684)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- The Puffer Trend Beyond the Jackets— Pants, Bucket Hats, and Belt Bags From Lululemon and More
- Sen. Bob Menendez seeks dismissal of criminal charges. His lawyers say prosecutors ‘distort reality’
- Why Travis Kelce Feels “Pressure” Over Valentine’s Day Amid Taylor Swift Romance
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Greta Gerwig Has a Surprising Response to Jo Koy’s Barbie Joke
- Lawmaker resumes push to end odd-year elections for governor and other statewide offices in Kentucky
- Biden’s education chief to talk with Dartmouth students about Islamophobia, antisemitism
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Tickets to see Iowa's Caitlin Clark are going for more than $1,000. What would you pay?
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Reveals Plans to Leave Hollywood
- Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu offers Peacock subscriptions for wild card game vs. Dolphins
- Aaron Rodgers Will No Longer Appear on The Pat McAfee Show After Jimmy Kimmel Controversy
- Average rate on 30
- First endangered Florida panther death of 2024 reported
- For IRS, backlogs and identity theft are still problems despite funding boost, watchdog says
- Sen. Bob Menendez seeks dismissal of criminal charges. His lawyers say prosecutors ‘distort reality’
Recommendation
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Biden’s education chief to talk with Dartmouth students about Islamophobia, antisemitism
Small-town Nebraska voters remove school board member who tried to pull books from libraries
Judge rescinds permission for Trump to give his own closing argument at his civil fraud trial
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Federal prosecutor in NY issues call for whistleblowers in bid to unearth corruption, other crimes
Lloyd Austin didn’t want to share his prostate cancer struggle. Many men feel similarly.
Court again delays racketeering trial against activist accused in violent ‘Stop Cop City’ protest