Who is Joni Thompson? Michigan woman wins $1M powerball prize on her first-ever lottery ticket

Stanwood resident Joni Thompson should consider participating in the lottery more often

PUBLISHED NOV 18, 2022

Joni Thompson of Stanwood with her big prize (Michigan Lottery)

MECOSTA COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A Michigan woman had a stroke of beginner's luck as she won a $1 million Powerball prize while playing the lottery for the first time in her life. In the Powerball drawing on November 8, which resulted in the million-dollar payoff, Joni Thompson matched all five white balls, according to the Michigan Lottery.

“I’d never played Powerball before, but I decided to purchase a ticket after seeing the jackpot was over $1 billion,” Thompson told Michigan Lottery officials. “After the drawing, I saw a social media post about a $1 million prize being won in Mecosta County. … When I realized I‘d matched five numbers and was the big winner, I started hyperventilating, screaming, and crying! I had my son scan my ticket on his lottery app to make sure I was reading it right. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to win $1 million; I am still speechless!” Fox17 reported.

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Her winning numbers were 10-33-41-47-56. She purchased the ticket from Country Corner Supermarket in Stanwood, located at 10039 Buchanan Road. What will Thompson do with the enormous sum? She informed Michigan Lottery representatives that she would utilize the funds to launch a new business and save the remainder.

A $2 Powerball ticket can be purchased at any lottery store in the state as well as online at MichiganLottery.com. This coming Saturday is the drawing, Fox17 reported. On November 8, a ticket in California won the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot.