A Holland woman says beginner’s luck brought her a $1 million Powerball prize.
Imari Shelton, 19, won $1 million playing Powerball with a ticket purchased at the Speedway gas station, located at 800 Washington Avenue, in Holland. Shelton matched the first five numbers drawn in Saturday night’s drawing to win her big prize: 16-19-32-34-57.
“When I saw the jackpot had climbed so high, I decided I should take a chance and play,” said Shelton. “I wasn’t even sure how to play, so I had to ask my mom for help.”
With her mother’s help, Shelton bought five Powerball Easy Pick plays.
“When I woke up on Sunday, my mom told me that someone who had bought a Powerball ticket at the Speedway had won $1 million,” said Shelton. “As soon as I heard that, I grabbed my ticket and started checking the numbers. When I saw I matched five numbers, I started shaking.
“I asked my mom what it meant if I matched five numbers and she thought I was joking. After she looked at my ticket with me, we both started screaming.”
Her winning ticket had a Powerball of 10, just three numbers off from the Powerball that was drawn (13). While Shelton barely missed winning the $949.8 million Powerball jackpot, she is happy to be $1 million richer.
“I am a student working and eventually want to earn a law degree and become a lawyer,” said Shelton. “This money will help make that dream a reality for me.”
In addition to using her newfound wealth for school, Shelton also plans to save a portion and buy some Powerball tickets for Wednesday night’s drawing.
“Winning $1 million feels unreal and I don’t know how to describe it, but winning $1.3 billion would be mind-blowing,” Shelton said.
Saturday night’s $949.8 million Powerball jackpot had Lottery players swarming retailers for a chance at the record prize. No jackpot-winning tickets were sold for Saturday night’s drawing, and the jackpot now stands at a record $1.3 billion. It is the largest jackpot in world lottery history.
The previous record for a U.S. lottery jackpot was $656 million. That Mega Millions jackpot was won on March 30, 2012, and split between three winning tickets (Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland).
The former record Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million, won on May 18, 2013, by Gloria C. Mackenzie, of Zephyrhills, Fla. Powerball ticket sales began April 19, 1992. Michigan began selling Powerball tickets on Jan. 31, 2010.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever won in Michigan was won on Aug. 15, 2012, by Donald Lawson, of Lapeer. Lawson won a $337 million Powerball jackpot that holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday nights, and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerballlive.com/powerball. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
