Occasional player hadn't bought tickets since last year, but jackpot caught her eye
By Kate Northrop
DAVIDSON, N.C. — An occasional lottery player from North Carolina almost didn't bother to buy a Mega Millions lottery ticket when she noticed how large the Powerball jackpot had grown, but a dissenting opinion had inadvertently helped her win a $2 million Mega Millions prize regardless.
One North Carolina woman almost didn't give the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game a second thought when she bought her Powerball tickets for a drawing offering an approximate $700 million jackpot, but a last-minute change of heart was enough to win her a $2 million prize.
Deborah Sexton of Davidson was in disbelief that it was her Mega Millions ticket that had won her a $2 million prize.
While at the Harris Teeter on Peninsula Drive in Davidson, she noticed the Powerball jackpot had ballooned to an enticing $700 million. She hadn't played the lottery in quite a long time, but it was that delectable prize amount that had convinced her to buy some tickets.
"We probably haven't bought any since last year, but we saw the Powerball jackpot was over $700 million so we decided to buy some," Sexton told the North Carolina Lottery.
She didn't give much thought to Mega Millions, whose jackpot was sitting at $234 million in comparison.
"I was going to just buy Powerball tickets, but my husband said I should buy some Mega Millions too, so I have to give him some credit," Sexton laughed with North Carolina Lottery officials.
The Quick Pick she purchased for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, Aug. 22 was the only ticket in the nation to match all five white ball numbers: 18, 30, 44, 48, and 50, just missing the gold Mega Ball number 12 to hit the jackpot.
"I was like, 'How can this be happening to me?" Sexton recalled in a press release. "It was overwhelming. I was just like, 'This can't be.'"
She visited Lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Monday to claim her prize and took home $1,435,001 after federal and state taxes. The lucky winner said she'll use some of the winnings to travel to Maine and visit family.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place on Friday, Aug. 29 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time for a $277 million jackpot.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $5 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
$1,435,001 that is some good money after taxes.
I too would take it with a jovial heart.
Congratulations 🎉 and enjoy the trip to Maine.
That's awesome, congrats to the lucky lady and good luck for tonight.
Congratulations to her. It is always the occasional player that wins 😫🤣
We probably will not ever know if anyone from Todd lottery post won big but if I win a huge mega millions or Powerball jackpot. I would reach out to Todd and ask him how many people are a member of this platform. After I verified everyone membership with email and ID verification with Todd, I would then give everyone a million and Todd double 2 million and let them know I didn't just win we all won together because after taxes $400 Million I can't take it with me or like my grandma said "son you never see a brink truck on back of a coffin" but I can change life forever. I'm that type of guy. I never need to meet any of you I just asked you to treat people with kindness and pay it forward. We only get one shot at this gift we call LIFE and this body only a shell for the spirit that eventually leaves the body and determines if you go upward or downward to meet God's angels or devil's angel. I'll then move secretly into retirement never be heard from again. Well folks it's good to dream of that Willy Wonka Golden ticket!
Very noble of you and very generous to spread the blessings when it arrives for you. Absolutely after taxes are taken out and then our life journey in earth will expire but don't know when. The money won't go with you. God bless you and your family. Wise woman your Grandma ✌🏼✌🏼💕💕
Thank you of those kind words! Yes my grandma was a beautiful human being and the most kindness and loving person I ever met. I miss her so much and she help raised me of the man I became. I wouldn't be the person I am today with out her because my mother was still finding her way as a single parent in her youth. Take care ❤️🙏🏾😊
Awesome. Congratulations!
I appreciate the good gesture.
I too was wondering if no one here has ever won a second prize PB or MM.
Most of us use aliases and don't have our true names. Not sure if someone said they won, members would be able to get the winners real name etc.
Back to your kind gesture, there are 254,931 lottery post members on this platform. To give each a million, you'll need to win 254,931,000,000. That's almost 255 Billion.
Back to LP members and winning, not sure if I would say I won the jackpot, but if am certain no identifier is out there, then maybe I would, but them my DM would be full in 10 minutes 🤣
well the guy thought I say mega I said powerball so I bought the mega too guess what nothing zip I wasted my 5 bucks
Oh wow 😳. I didn't know that many on here. Well thanks Just maybe for the clarification. I'll have to rethink that!! Oh well maybe I'll just set up a college fund program every year through lottery post where parents can apply for scholarships or something like that. I'll also do something like that on my own but hey I tried. Definitely not giving away my full jackpot even though I didn't win $254 billion 🤣🤣🤣
The scholarship would be an awesome idea. Especially for Trade courses.
They don't cost so much like the 4 year degrees and work is always available.
If I won the 1.1B, I would definitely do something for charity, not sure exactly what though 🤔