Forgotten paper in bottom of woman’s purse is really ‘life-changing’ NC lottery ticket

Terry Peace’s wife almost forgot about a piece of paper floating around in the bottom of her purse.

But eventually she fished out a winning $1 million Powerball ticket, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“I guess when she initially reached in to check the tickets she just missed that one,” Peace told lottery officials, according to a Jan. 12 news release.

Peace, 65, who works on home renovations, said the win could mean he and his wife can retire early. He also wants to put some money aside for their grandchildren, save some and buy a Ford F-150 truck.

“I’ve always had good luck,” he said, according to the release. “I always told people, ‘I know I have the luck to win.’”

Peace bought the ticket for $2 at a market in Waynesville, where he lives, about 150 miles northwest of Charlotte.

The ticket matched the numbers on all five white balls in the Jan. 4 Powerball drawing, the lottery said.

The Powerball game includes five white balls and a red ball. Anyone with a ticket matching all five numbers on the white balls and the number on the red ball wins the Powerball jackpot, which continues to grow until it’s claimed.

Peace claimed his prize at the North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters on Jan. 11 and, after tax withholdings, took home $712,501, lottery officials said.

“This is life-changing,” he said, according to the release. “How many people really win a million dollars?”

This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Forgotten paper in bottom of woman’s purse is really ‘life-changing’ NC lottery ticket."