GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Montgomery County man walked into Maryland Lottery headquarters this week to claim a $50,000 Powerball prize, calling it a “down payment” on what he hopes is a much bigger win in the near future. The lucky ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven in Gaithersburg just days before the jackpot soared past $600 million.
The winner, an auto industry worker and occasional lottery player, stopped for gas at the Olney–Laytonsville Road store on Saturday and decided to buy a ticket on a whim after seeing the jackpot numbers spike.
“I must not have been paying attention recently,” he told lottery officials. “Imagine how your life can change with that kind of win.”
Despite buying the ticket on Aug. 16, he didn’t check the numbers until two days later — on Monday — when he discovered he had matched enough numbers to claim a third-tier $50,000 prize.
“I didn’t check the results until Monday night,” he said. “When I saw the $50,000, I was amazed. The most I had ever won over the years was $20.”
The Gaithersburg resident, whose name has not been released, said the prize will be used to upgrade an upcoming family trip. He added that he’s thrilled with the win — but already has his eye on the next drawing, with the Powerball jackpot now sitting at $700 million for Friday.
“I’m happy with this,” he said. “But I plan to be back for the jackpot soon.”
Key Points
- A Montgomery County man won $50,000 on a Powerball ticket bought at a Gaithersburg 7-Eleven
- He waited nearly two days to check the ticket and was stunned by the win
- The Powerball jackpot now stands at $700 million for the Aug. 23 drawing
A Gaithersburg man’s $50K Powerball win came from a pit stop at 7-Eleven and might just be his warm-up for a $700 million prize.
