“We like to go on cruises,” the winner told lottery officials. “This will make it a lot sweeter next time.” It’s not the first time a lucky lottery player has planned for a vacation. Another North Carolina winner hoped to take a Caribbean cruise after he hit the jackpot, McClatchy News reported in May.

A Powerball player kicked off the new year with a huge Powerball win in North Carolina. The player bought a ticket that matched all but one number picked in the Jan. 1 drawing, making it worth $1 million, results show. The winning numbers: white balls 6-12-28-35-66, with red Powerball 26.

Congrats to two Cash 5 players who win big prizes yesterday! A player with a ticket from Masonboro Country Store on Masonboro Loop Rd. in Wilmington won a $200,757 prize and a player with a ticket from Harris Teeter on Town Center Dr. in Mooresville won $50,000 with Double Play! pic.twitter.com/lgWVhDoRWc

No tickets were sold matching all six numbers in Wednesday evening’s drawing of the multi-state Powerball lottery, pushing the estimated jackpot for Saturday’s drawing to $240 million. Two tickets were sold matching five numbers but not the Powerball in Indiana and Ohio and are worth $1 million each.

The players bought Carolina Cash 5 game tickets that matched all the numbers picked in the drawings on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, meaning each one was worth six figures, the N.C. Education Lottery wrote on its website and in an email to McClatchy News.

The winning ticket matched four of the five white balls plus the Powerball, according to their website. The winning numbers were 1 – 20 – 36 – 38 – 43, with a Powerball of 24. No information was available for where the winning ticket was sold.

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2025, results for each game: 01-20-36-38-43, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 2 Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2025, results for each game: Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.