Family Nearly Wins $1.1 Billion Powerball Jackpot but Claims $150,000 Prize Instead

A family in Louisiana narrowly missed claiming the largest Powerball jackpot ever, which was recent $1.1 billion. Instead, they took home a substantial consolation prize after missing just one number in the draw.

John Stokes purchased his ticket at Billie’s Wag-A-Bag in DeRidder. That evening, he and his family checked their numbers and realized they had matched four out of five white balls plus the red Powerball. Thanks to the added “Power Play” option, their winnings were tripled, resulting in a $150,000 prize.

The DeRidder family with their $150,000 Powerball winnings. — The Stokes family came very close to winning the $1.1 billion jackpot but secured a $150,000 consolation prize. 7 KPLC

When claiming their prize, Stokes expressed their surprise and gratitude. Despite their luck, no one claimed the $1.1 billion jackpot or the subsequent $1.44 billion drawing, causing the prize pool to increase further and approach the record set in 2022.

The current jackpot is estimated at $1.7 billion after nobody matched all winning numbers in Wednesday’s draw, which had odds of about 1 in 292 million. While the grand prize remains unclaimed, four tickets matched five numbers plus Power Play, each winning $2 million, and eleven others took home $1 million.

Close-up of a person holding a Powerball lottery ticket. — With the jackpot soaring, the next draw is scheduled for Saturday.

Winners now face a choice: accept a one-time lump sum of about $770 million after taxes or opt for an annuity that pays out increased amounts annually over 29 years. The enormous prize continues to grow as no recent jackpot has been claimed since May 31, with the record payout reaching $2.04 billion in 2022.