Missouri lottery winners: Six unforgettable jackpot stories

This collection of stories highlights notable lottery wins across Missouri, with players turning small wagers into significant prizes.

One Mega Millions player matched five numbers to claim $1 million, just missing an enormous jackpot. In Adrian, a Powerball player who believed he won $4 instead discovered a $50,000 windfall at a Casey’s store.

Three friends in Sturgeon shared a $2 million Lotto prize after years of playing together. A Big Riches scratch-off in Freeburg revealed a $100,000 win, while tickets sold in Town & Country and Peculiar each earned their holders $50,000 from Powerball draws.

Read the stories below.

A Missouri woman won $1 million at the lottery, and it’s not her first big prize, officials said.

NO. 1: MISSOURI MAN THOUGHT HE WON ONLY $4 FROM POWERBALL DRAWING. CLERKS TOLD HIM OTHERWISE

Store clerks knew for a few days that someone had a winning ticket. It took this man a while to figure it out. | Published May 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

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NO. 2: MEGA MILLIONS PLAYER JUST MISSES $387 MILLION JACKPOT IN MISSOURI — BUT STILL WINS BIG

The ticket matched five winning numbers but not the Mega Ball. | Published November 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

An 18-year-old Maryland man won a lottery prize from a ticket purchased by his father.

NO. 3: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS $50,000 PRIZE IN MISSOURI. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

The ticket matched four winning numbers and the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published March 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

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Nobody won the grand prize, which rises to an estimated $133 million, with a cash value of about $60.3 million.

NO. 4: FRIENDS WHO HAVE PLAYED LOTTERY TOGETHER FOR FIVE YEARS WIN MILLIONS IN MISSOURI

The three friends are now splitting the jackpot. | Published May 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Rodriguez

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Nobody won the grand prize, which rises to an estimated $133 million, with a cash value of about $60.3 million.

NO. 5: LOTTERY PLAYER WAS ‘HAVING A BAD DAY’ — UNTIL HE WON A HUGE PRIZE IN MISSOURI

“I saw the win symbol and couldn’t believe it!” the winner said. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mike Stunson

NO. 6: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN MISSOURI. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD?

The ticket matched four winning numbers and the Powerball, lottery officials say. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.