Louisiana Family Misses $1.1 Billion Powerball Jackpot by a Single Number — but Still Takes Home a Large Prize

Family narrowly misses out on $1.1 billion Powerball jackpot by a single number

A Louisiana family recently experienced every lottery player’s dream and nightmare all at once. John Stokes, a father of three from DeRidder, was just one number away from hitting the $1.1 billion Powerball jackpot in the drawing held on September 1st. Despite missing out on the massive prize, the family still managed to walk away with a substantial sum of $150,000.

According to a news release from the Louisiana Lottery, Stokes had purchased a Powerball ticket with high hopes of winning the colossal jackpot. When the winning numbers were announced, he discovered that he had matched four of the white ball numbers and the red Powerball number. Additionally, he had opted for the Power Play feature on his ticket, tripling his winnings to $150,000.

Stokes revealed that he bought the ticket from Billie’s Wag-A-Bag, LLC in DeRidder on a whim due to its convenient location. Little did he know that this spur-of-the-moment decision would lead to a significant win for his family. On the night of the drawing, as the family was getting ready for bed, they decided to check the numbers and were left in disbelief at their stroke of luck.

Expressing his gratitude, Stokes stated, “We were shocked and feel so blessed,” when they visited the Louisiana Lottery’s Alexandria regional office to claim their prize on September 2nd. Rose Hudson, the president of the Louisiana Lottery, commended Stokes and other loyal players for their wins, expressing excitement about more Louisiana residents coming forward as winners during the thrilling Powerball Jackpot run.

As of September 5th, the Powerball jackpot had surged to an impressive $1.8 billion, marking it as the second-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. The upcoming Powerball drawing on September 6th promises more excitement and anticipation for players across the country. The draw will be broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee and can also be viewed on Powerball.com.

In a similar tale of near-miss fortune, a North Carolina man narrowly missed out on the billion-dollar Powerball jackpot in the August 30th drawing, falling short by just one number. Despite this, he managed to match four of the five white ball numbers and the red Powerball, securing a $50,000 prize. With the Power Play option, his winnings tripled to a substantial $150,000, showcasing that sometimes, close can still mean a significant win in the world of lottery.

The thrill of chasing a life-changing jackpot is a sentiment shared by many lottery players, with both heartbreak and elation often hinging on the randomness of numbers drawn. The Stokes family’s almost-victory serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of luck in the world of lottery, where even being one number away from a billion-dollar windfall can result in a sizeable win.

In the realm of lottery games, the excitement and anticipation leading up to a draw can be palpable, with players across the nation holding onto hope that their chosen numbers will align to create a life-altering moment. As the Powerball jackpot continues to climb to astronomical figures, the allure of the game grows stronger, beckoning players to try their luck and dream of the possibilities that a winning ticket could bring.

In the end, while the Stokes family may have narrowly missed out on the billion-dollar jackpot, their $150,000 win stands as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of playing the lottery. As they celebrate their unexpected windfall, other hopeful players across the country eagerly await the next drawing, each ticket representing a chance at turning dreams into reality.