Wake County man and Johnston County woman win $1 million Powerball prize

March 20, 2023 Posted by NC Lottery at 12:16 PM

Benjamin Haynes III of Garner and Laura McGhee of Angier tried their luck on a Powerball ticket and won a $1 million prize.

They bought the ticket at the Food Lion on N.C. 50 in Garner where they both work.

The winning ticket matched numbers on all five white balls in the Feb. 1 drawing. The odds of matching all five white balls are 1 in 11.6 million.

Haynes and McGhee claimed their prize at lottery headquarters Friday. Both players received $500,000 and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, each took home $356,250.

Monday’s Powerball drawing offers an $86 million jackpot, or $46.3 million in cash. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million. Players can buy Powerball tickets at any retail location or with Online Play through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program educates and empowers North Carolinians to make smart decisions when they play the lottery. Visit nclottery.com/PlaySmart to learn how the Play Smart program helps someone create a game plan to keep lottery play fun. If playing the lottery has become more than a game, visit morethanagame.nc.gov/ for free, confidential help.

12 COMMENTS

3/22/2023 01:10 - Barbara S.

Congrats, do you people really hear what you are saying? I mean really, that has nothing to do with where they work as far as winnings. How would you feel if it was said about you if you won the same way? Sad just be happy for them.

3/21/2023 09:22 - Jean W.

Congratulations! Happy for you both!

3/21/2023 05:53 - Teresa R.

Shouldn't matter if you but the ticket from where you work or not because North State not the stores control the winning numbers

3/21/2023 05:29 - Joe S.

Congratulations from Charlotte!

3/20/2023 10:26 - Gabriella M.

Little suspicious… all these big winners coming from tickets purchased from an employee at their place of work. They should not be allowed to buy tickets where they are employed! Just goes to show how easily manipulated the lottery can be.

3/20/2023 09:24 - Sabrinna D.

Scam

3/20/2023 08:21 - michael a.

I used to frequent this food Lion I'm disabled and they have the most helpful staff working there congratulations well deserved

3/20/2023 06:23 - Brent W.

NCEL “ Congratulations on on your Winnings “ But it seems to me they choose what you can win. If you play together both won $500k each but if they played alone win $1mil then choose lump sum of $600k, take home $425k. They received more separate $365k each IJS Pick and Choose

3/20/2023 04:34 - Willie B.

Tracy N, Buying scratch offs probably not but buying online games should be no problem. The computer doesn't know them from Adam.

3/20/2023 04:03 - roberta n.

Congratulations to both of you.

3/20/2023 03:45 - Jami R.

Seems like if we all want to win anything these days then we need to get a job at a place that sells lottery tickets. LOL

3/20/2023 02:31 - Tracy N.

Another million dollar winner who bought the ticket where they work. Again, owners & employees should not be allowed to buy tickets where they work. Anywhere else is fine, just not where you work or your place of business.

Wake County man and Johnston County woman win $1 million Powerball prize

March 20, 2023 Posted by NC Lottery at 12:16 PM

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