Kentucky man shows up to lottery headquarters in uniform to claim big Powerball prize

The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing has soared to an estimated $1.2 billion — now the third largest in the game’s history — and while no Kentuckian secured the big payout Monday, a few were still winners.

The latest is an anonymous U.S. Postal Service worker who lives in Shepherdsville, in the greater Louisville area.

For the Powerball’s Sept. 18 drawing, according to the Kentucky Lottery, the man bought his ticket online the day of. When the man matched all four of the drawing’s white ball numbers, he got an email while at work giving him some great news: He’d just won $50,000.

Stunned, the man told Kentucky Lottery officials he immediately left work, showing up at its headquarters in downtown Louisville still in his USPS uniform.

The man was initially reluctant to tell anyone, other than his girlfriend, about the news, but he ultimately couldn’t keep the secret to himself.

“I said, ‘I ain’t tellin’ nobody’ but then I went and told everybody,” he joked, according to Kentucky Lottery officials.

After state and federal taxes, the man took home $35,750, according to Kentucky Lottery spokesperson Travis Ragsdale.

So what will he do with the winnings? The man told lottery officials he will pay off debt and take a vacation. The money will also allow him to buy a 1971 Camaro he’s been saving for.

After no one won the jackpot for Monday’s Powerball drawing, the next is set to take place Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. You can watch the drawing live online.

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

Do you have a question about the lottery in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.