Current:Home > MyMichigan woman’s handpicked numbers win $1M on Powerball. She found out on Facebook. -FinanceCore
Michigan woman’s handpicked numbers win $1M on Powerball. She found out on Facebook.
View
Date:2025-04-14 05:06:34
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! (234)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Georgia bills in doubt at deadline include immigration crackdown, religious liberty protections
- Trump appeals judge’s decision to remove his name from Illinois primary ballot
- Oprah Winfrey says she's stepping down from WeightWatchers. Its shares are cratering.
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Farms fuel global warming. Billions in tax dollars likely aren't helping - report
- Storytelling as a tool for change: How Marielena Vega found her voice through farmworker advocacy
- Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira expected to plead guilty in federal case
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Caitlin Clark changed the women's college game. Will she do the same for the WNBA?
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before Congress about his hospitalization: I did not handle it right
- Georgia Senate passes bill banning taxpayer, private funds for American Library Association
- Federal judge blocks Texas' SB4 immigration law that would criminalize migrant crossings
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- See the humanoid work robot OpenAI is bringing to life with artificial intelligence
- Visa Cash App RB: Sellout or symbiotic relationship? Behind the Formula 1 team's new name
- A growing number of gamers are LGBTQ+, so why is representation still lacking?
Recommendation
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Proof Machine Gun Kelly Is Changing His Stage Name After Over a Decade
Navalny’s family and supporters are laying the opposition leader to rest after his death in prison
Writer E. Jean Carroll’s lawyers urge judge to reject Trump’s request to postpone $83.3M jury award
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
RHOBH's Erika Jayne Claps Back at Denise Richards' Lip-Synching Dig
Prince William Returns to Royal Duties 2 Days After Missing Public Appearance Due to Personal Matter
House to vote on short-term funding extension to avert government shutdown