Top 5 Cash 5 jackpot winners of all time

October 27, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:00 PM

Nine years ago on Oct. 27, 2006, Cash 5 tickets went on sale - and players have been winning jackpots ever since. To celebrate the game's anniversary, let's take a look at the top five Cash 5 jackpots ever won by a single winner:

#5: $773,609 - John Grabski of Charlotte (4/21/11 drawing)

#4: $855,949 - Dorothy Bundy of Jacksonville (10/10/13 drawing)

#3: $856,998 - Melvin Smith of Greenville (11/18/07 drawing)

#2: $876,185 - Felix Scism of Forest City (8/25/13 drawing)

#1: $1,144,821 - Homer Buffaloe of Zebulon (3/3/13 drawing)

The biggest Cash 5 jackpot ever was $1.35 million. It was split by three lucky tickets that matched all five numbers in the May 5, 2011 drawing. The bigger the jackpot gets, the more tickets are sold, and the chances increase that one or more tickets will hit the jackpot.

When it comes to how players pick their numbers, we've heard everything from using family birthdays to using a deck of cards and, of course, going with the classic Quick Pick. So to all the Cash 5 players out there: How do you pick your numbers?

29 COMMENTS

11/01/2015 03:36 - Natalie A.

LZ: Where can we view the number of ppl who won not only the jackpot prize amount, but also the lesser para-mutual prize amounts in the Cash 5 game?NC Lottery
Great question. You can click on this link and look up the drawing date for any past Cash 5 drawing, click on it, and see those details :-)http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/cash5_past.aspx

11/01/2015 01:39 - Natalie A.

The $2 Cash 5 EZ-Match has recently become my favorite game to play and just hit 3 of 5 numbers off last night's drawing. Not sure how much we won being that it's para mutual, my husband and I did some quick math. The pool prize amount is 9.72% of $192K, comes out to around $18,662 to be split amongst all 3/5 ticket holders. Excited that we had won maybe a decent amount of $ this time, my husband and I rushed to a retailer at 1am in the morn to collect what we assumed would be at least $100 or better only to find out we won $4. Go figure. That amounts to around 4665 3/5 winners ... WOW!!!

10/31/2015 03:14 - CONNIE T.

Are you EVER going to change the number generator to be current in the Powerball game?NC Lottery
Would you do us a favor and click the HELP link at the top of the screen and fill out an ONLINE SUPPORT form reporting this? That will help the technical support folks see that players are asking about it. Thanks!

10/31/2015 07:52 - Leslie B.

I won the jackpot on a set of five QP numbers back in April 2012. I had prayed to God to help me... land a job for an interview the next day. I felt a tingle when I bought that set of QP numbers. Very blessed. Would love to feel that "tingle" again! PS they didn't win the contract so I didn't get the job. Still hoping for that too...

10/30/2015 02:15 - Lydia G.

Quick Pick and kids birthdays.

10/29/2015 07:23 - angela g.

I don't have any special way, I do quick pick-Bdays. I have even taken the numbers off of a package of underware I purchased. Don't laugh I ended up with 3 out 5 numbers, I miss placed the number and have been looking for it:)

10/29/2015 02:01 - joan b.

I have a question when you enter your 30 dollar ticket in the second chance drawing, they have 3 separate draws so do you lose all entries after the first draw and have to enter more or do they carry on to the next draw.NC Lottery
The entries don't carry over, they're good for one drawing.

10/29/2015 12:46 - Brett O.

Quick Pick. The winning numbers are drawn randomly. So my numbers may as well be.

10/28/2015 02:26 - Denver G.

My kid's and Grandkid's B-days and QP. I have had 3 #'s five times this month!! I hit 4 #'s once this year. 35 years ago on 10/31 I kissed my wife for the first time. Three kids and 4 grand kids later, I feel like something big is coming our way!! BOO!

10/28/2015 08:54 - Tonia R.

Quick Pick...I may be changing directions on how I choose my numbers...I hit and miss...more misses than hits...LOL...Congrats to all the lucky winners!!!!!

10/28/2015 08:03 - Reneta M.

Nothing just like the rest of the games

10/28/2015 07:16 - JIM B.

Not very well

10/28/2015 07:00 - Stephen F.

Quick picks

10/28/2015 06:54 - Elisabeth W.

Quick pick for the most part! Need some improvement to the cash 5 game! Like bigger prizes for the non jackpot prizes and a multiplier would be sweet like in SC. How come I see Michael Hawkins won twice on the 5 for $500 drawing 0n 10/21/15? I thought you could only win once on the same drawing or DID IT CHANGE? Please confirm. THX!!!!!!!!!!!!!NC Lottery
He didn't win twice. The file was not loaded correctly on the website. But thanks to players mentioning it here in the Lucke-Zone, we reported it to the tech folks and they fixed it You will probably see us copy & paste this reply into several other comments! :)

10/28/2015 06:27 - David M.

Quick pick, but I never win anything, especially because I live in Raleigh. Nobody I know wins bigs from around here.. but I hope that will change soon...Good lucky to all who play including me... lol

10/28/2015 01:49 - Eddie C.

I play the same numbers since the cash 5 started my grand kids birthdays.

10/28/2015 12:38 - Carlos S.

Quick pick. 87% of lottery winnings come from quick picks. And or if I see a falling star I'll use numbers at that time.

10/27/2015 11:56 - Kimberly B.

In the past I would use the birthdays of my mom, stepson, boyfriend, and myself. Recently I went to the store and received a quick pick cash 5 EZ match and it was an odd combination and I have been playing it since then. Sorry, I can't divulge that information at no time :) if I don't hit the cash 5 I still do great with the EZ Match.

10/27/2015 09:38 - Danny P.

Michael Hawkins won two times in the 10/21/15: Five for $500 drawing! Now that's interesting? Or Maybe just a misprint? :) Did we really have one person from Hickory win twice in the 5 for $500 in the 10/21 drawing?NC Lottery
He didn't win twice. The file was not loaded correctly on the website. But thanks to players mentioning it here in the Lucke-Zone, we reported it to the tech folks and they fixed it You will probably see us copy & paste this reply into several other comments! :)

10/27/2015 08:51 - Rodney M.

Quick pick does it for me.

10/27/2015 08:03 - Ramona M.

Congrats to all of the Cash 5 Winners past and future but I have a questions about the 5 for $500 drawing that took place on 10/21/15. It shows that Michael Hawkins from Hickory won twice and I thought you only can win once in one drawing so please explain how he won twice.Did we really have one person from Hickory win twice in the 5 for $500 in the 10/21 drawing?NC Lottery
He didn't win twice. The file was not loaded correctly on the website. But thanks to players mentioning it here in the Lucke-Zone, we reported it to the tech folks and they fixed it You will probably see us copy & paste this reply into several other comments! :)

10/27/2015 07:23 - Robert H.

That's what's up

10/27/2015 06:33 - Anthony B.

Did we really have one person from Hickory win twice in the 5 for $500 in the 10/21 drawing?NC Lottery
He didn't win twice. The file was not loaded correctly on the website. But thanks to players mentioning it here in the Lucke-Zone, we reported it to the tech folks and they fixed it You will probably see us copy & paste this reply into several other comments! :)

10/27/2015 05:45 - Eleanor K.

I play one constant number and numerous quick picks.

10/27/2015 05:32 - Betty R.

10/27/2015 05:18 - judy b.

congrats

10/27/2015 04:23 - Adam G.

i PICK MY NUMBERS FROM MY FAVORITE UNC TARHEEL BASKETBALL PLAYERS!!!

10/27/2015 04:17 - anthony w.

I use my kids birthdays

10/27/2015 04:14 - Judy W.

Whatever way I have been picking them is not working, lol. I think I need to try a different way. Hope my luck changes, but congrats to all who have spent that dollar for a chance.

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Top 5 Cash 5 jackpot winners of all time

October 27, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 4:00 PM

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