A Philadelphia man got an unexpected windfall after discovering a forgotten Powerball ticket while cleaning out his car — and realizing it was worth $50,000.
According to Maryland Lottery officials, the man had purchased the ticket on June 4 at a retailer in Baltimore County during a trip. Over a week later, while tidying up his vehicle, he found the ticket tucked away and decided to check the numbers.
To his astonishment, the ticket matched enough numbers to secure a $50,000 prize — one of Powerball’s top secondary payouts.
The winner, an engineer who frequently travels for work, told lottery officials he was “overjoyed” by the unexpected find and called it “a stroke of luck during routine cleaning.” He added that he hoped the win was a sign of good fortune to come.
Maryland Lottery officials confirmed the win and noted that the ticket was claimed in time, before the expiration deadline.
Stories of lost or forgotten lottery tickets turning into big wins are not uncommon, and this incident serves as a reminder for players to double-check their tickets before tossing them.
Powerball remains one of the most popular lottery games in the U.S., regularly featuring jackpots that soar into the hundreds of millions. Matching several — but not all — of the winning numbers can still yield substantial prizes, such as this $50,000 payout.
