No one claimed $1 million Powerball win — then North Carolina man saw forgotten ticket
.jpg "A North Carolina man forgot to look at his Powerball ticket, then was “ecstatic” to learn he won a $1 million prize.")
After North Carolina lottery officials announced on Aug. 16 that a $1 million Powerball jackpot had been won but was unclaimed, Donald West realized he had forgotten to look at his ticket.
“On the website I saw a million-dollar ticket was sold in Hayesville,” West told lottery officials. “Then I realized I hadn’t checked my Powerball numbers Tuesday like I normally do.”
When West, 63, discovered his $2 Quick Pick from an Ingles grocery store had turned into a million-dollar prize, he said he was in shock.
“I was ecstatic,” West told lottery officials. “I had to check 15 to 20 times just to confirm it.”
The odds of him winning were 1 in 11.6 million, according to the NC Lottery website.
West took home $710,100 after taxes and told lottery officials that, besides bills, he wasn’t sure what he will do with the winnings.
Hayesville is in Clay County, about 220 miles west of Charlotte.
This story was originally published August 22, 2022 at 12:13 PM with the headline "No one claimed $1 million Powerball win — then North Carolina man saw forgotten ticket."
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