Saturday’s jackpot the largest in Powerball history

Before we look at this week’s biggest wins, we have to talk about this weekend’s big jackpots. Across the state and nationwide, all eyes are on the Powerball jackpot. The jackpot increased on Friday, eclipsing the record $587.5 million annuity for the game set in November. Saturday’s jackpot is now estimated at $600 million if taken as an annuity or $376.9 million if taken as a lump sum.

If no ticket matches all six numbers in the drawing, the jackpot would roll to the largest amount in U.S. History. The record was set in March of 2012 when the Mega Millions jackpot reached an annuity value of $656 million. During the jackpot run which started on April 3, four North Carolina tickets have been one red Powerball away from hitting the jackpot. Each of the four tickets matched all five white balls in a drawing to win $1 million.

Mega Millions players on Friday night have the chance to win the game’s largest jackpot of 2013. It is estimated at $190 million if taken as an annuity or $140.9 million if taken as a lump sum.

So, who else won big prizes this week? We’ll start with Powerball. Susan Walley of Winston-Salem and Thomas Mason of Charlotte won $40,000 each in the May 4 and May 1 Powerball drawings, respectively. One of the two $10,000 prizes won in the May 15 drawing was won by John Hayden of Alliance. The other winning ticket was sold at the Circle B on North Main Street in Holly Springs. Audra Wade of Charlotte won one of the two $10,000 prizes won in the May 11 drawing. The other winning ticket was sold at the Lowe’s Foods on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington.

Devlien Bullock of Greensboro plans to use the $250,000 prize he won playing Mega Millions to purchase a new home for his family. Three Mega Millions players claimed $10,000 prizes this week. Carl Atkins of Durham won in the March 15 drawing. Lewis Brooks of Durham won in the May 14 drawing. Another $10,000-winning ticket for that drawing was sold at the 1 Stop & Shope on West Haggard Avenue in Elon.

A Cash 5 ticket worth $236,455 sat unclaimed in Ed Studebaker’s West End home for nearly two months before he realized he’d won the March 14 jackpot. The three winners who split the May 9 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot have each claimed their $64,688 share. The winners are Aaron McCullough of High Point, Quantina Oliver of Charlotte, and Laverne Newberry of Supply.

A pair of Cash 5 jackpots won over the past week have yet to be claimed. A ticket sold at the Wake Forest BP on North White Street in Wake Forest won the $149,825 jackpot in the May 13 drawing. A ticket sold at the Grocery Boy Jr. on New Hope Church Road in Raleigh won the $110,895 jackpot in the May 16 drawing.

Instant players scratched their way to big prizes this week, too, including an Indiana man who won $150,000 while visiting the state. “This is what you always dream about and it never happens,” Rex Roth said. “But this time it did.” The retired school superintendent won the $150,000 top prize in the 10X the Payout game.

A pair of players collected $100,000 prizes won in the lottery’s MONOPOLY game. Gerry Davis of Hope Mills said he planned to use his winnings to grow his business. “Wow, I don’t know what to say,” Davis said as he held his check for the first time. “I’ve seen some big checks in my lifetime, but never one with my name on it.” Bruce Battle of Greensboro claimed the other $100,000 prize. Two more MONOPOLY players, Annie Starkes of Fayetteville and Herbert Rivenbark of Charlotte scratched off $10,000 prizes.

Other scratch-off winners who claimed big prizes this week are:

• Kimberly Foust of Burlington who won $10,000 playing $2,500 a Week for Life!
  
• Jason Cetta of West Columbia, S.C. who won $10,000 playing $5,000 a Week for Life!
  
• Michael Baker of Wilson who won $10,000 playing $5,000 a Week for Life!
  
• Eliza McCotter of Hookerton who won $20,000 playing Power 7’s
  
• Michael Byrum of Hertford who won $21,000 playing Blackjack Tripler
  
• Tony Hanes of Lexington who won $25,000 playing Red White & Blue Cash
  
• Renee Turnage of Princeton who won $75,000 playing Lady Bucks
  

In all, lottery players statewide won more than $24.4 million this week - and we’re hoping its an even bigger weekend! Good luck and see you soon here in the Lucke-Zone.