West Virginia’s Latest $1 Million Powerball Winner Comes Forward

January 14, 2016

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Lottery Acting Director John Myers introduced Steven Wilson of East Liverpool, Ohio, as the latest West Virginia Lottery player to win a $1 million prize from the Powerball game at a press conference on Thursday.

“We have had 12 tickets worth $1 million from the Powerball game that have been sold in West Virginia in the last two years,” Myers said. “We have this $1 million ticket from Chester in addition to 12 tickets from around the state that have won $50,000 from the Powerball game in just the last couple of weeks, so we feel like we are off to a good start here in 2016.”

Steven, who works for a Pittsburgh based company that manufactures vinyl plastics, bought his lucky ticket at Chaney’s Service Station in Chester, W.Va.

“I normally play the Ohio Lottery, but my wife and I were talking about how it seems like West Virginia is a lucky state, so we decided to buy all of our tickets for Wednesday night’s Powerball in West Virginia,” Wilson said. “It paid off.”

Steven and his wife Nancy made the drive to Charleston today to take advantage of the fact that he had two days already scheduled off from work. He said the winnings will allow him to take care of some immediate family needs, such as paying off student loans, providing for his mother and go towards the purchase of a new home.

“I still can’t believe it. Some things just work out. I do plan to keep on working and doing what I am doing. First we will pay off our student loans. My father passed away not long ago and this will allow us to take care of some things and allow us to take care of my mother and really help us.”

The Powerball Jackpot for Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 was an annuitized $1.586.4 billion with a cash value of $983.5 million. Jackpot-winning tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee. Each ticket is worth $528.8 million (annuity) and $327.8 million (cash).

The drawing also created 81 new millionaires (besides the jackpot winners). Eight tickets won $2 million and 73 tickets won $1 million. The Match 5 winners in the Jan. 13 drawing were spread across 26 lottery jurisdictions, which included the lucky ticket from Chester, W.Va.

West Virginia Lottery proceeds benefit education, seniors and tourism.