Powerball and Mega Millions players have come tantalizingly close to winning huge jackpots, but they’re still walking away with substantial prizes. A Michigan player won $1 million after nearly winning a $20 million jackpot, and a North Carolina player won the same amount while narrowly missing out on a $1.03 billion prize.
The summary above was created using AI tools and edited by journalists in our News department. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
No. 1: Powerball player misses $45 million jackpot in New Jersey, but still wins big
The player was one number away from a huge prize. A lucky Powerball player in New Jersey won $1 million after narrowly missing out on the $45 million jackpot, lottery officials said. The player matched five of the white balls but missed the red Powerball during the Monday, June 17, drawing. | Read Helena Wegner’s full story
No. 2: Powerball Player Wins Big in Michigan. Where Was the Lucky Ticket Sold?
A Powerball ticket sold in Michigan won $1 million, narrowly missing the $20 million jackpot, lottery officials said. The ticket matched five winning numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing, the Michigan Lottery said. No one won the top prize, which rises to an estimated $34 million, with a cash value of $16 million, in the next drawing. | Read Don Sweeney’s full story
No. 3: Powerball player narrowly misses $1.03 billion jackpot — but still wins big in NC
A Powerball player won $1 million, continuing a recent streak of victories in North Carolina. The $1 million winner bought a ticket that matched all but one of the numbers chosen in the drawing. The prize comes after another ticket sold in the state narrowly missed the jackpot, instead winning $50,000, according to the Powerball website and an NC | Read the full story by Simone Jasper
No. 4: Powerball player narrowly misses $57 million jackpot, but still wins big in Georgia
A Georgia Powerball player narrowly missed out on an estimated $57 million jackpot, but still walked away with a hefty prize. A person in Martinez won $150,000 after matching four numbers and the red Powerball in the drawing, according to the Georgia Lottery. The lucky player would have won $50,000, but spent an extra $1 on the Power Play option, tripling his prize. | Read Tanasia Kenney’s full story
No. 5: Powerball player narrowly misses $626 million jackpot, but still wins life-changing prize
A South Carolina man got an early Christmas surprise after playing Powerball, state lottery officials said. The Lowcountry man missed the $626 million jackpot by one number but went on to win $150,000 in the Dec. 23 drawing, the South Carolina Education Lottery said. “I was shocked,” he told officials of his big win. | Read Tanasia Kenney’s full story
No. 6: Mega Millions player narrowly misses $1.1 billion jackpot — but still wins big in Ohio
A Mega Millions player ticket sold in Ohio won $1 million, narrowly missing an estimated $1.1 billion jackpot, lottery officials said. The ticket matched five winning numbers in the drawing, but not the Mega Ball. A player from New Jersey won the top prize. | Read Don Sweeney’s full story
No. 7: Mega Millions player misses jackpot in Pennsylvania but still wins big
A Mega Millions ticket sold in Pennsylvania won $1 million, narrowly missing the $125 million jackpot, lottery officials said. The ticket matched five winning numbers in the drawing, but not the Mega Ball, the Pennsylvania Lottery said. No one won the top prize. | Read Don Sweeney’s full story
No. 8: Powerball player narrowly misses $1.03 billion jackpot — but still wins big in Florida
A lottery player narrowly missed out on a huge jackpot but still won a life-changing prize in Florida. The person bought a ticket that matched all but one of the numbers chosen in the Powerball drawing, making it worth $1 million, according to the game’s website and a Florida Lottery press release. | Read Simone Jasper’s full story
This report was produced using AI tools that summarize previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News department.
