A LUCKY Powerball player has just a few days left to claim a life-changing $2 million prize before it’s gone forever.
The winning ticket from Colorado matched five white balls in the December 16, 2024 drawing, but still remains unclaimed half a year later.
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It was purchased at the Safeway Fuel Mini C-2612 in Aurora, a busy suburb of Denver.
And thanks to the Power Play option, which doubles the $1 million second-tier prize, the ticket is worth a whopping $2 million.
But whoever is sitting on this fortune must be quick to get their hands on the cash.
The ticket must be claimed by June 14, or the money goes back into the Colorado Lottery’s proceeds fund – and the mystery winner walks away with nothing.
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“Colorado has thousands of unclaimed prizes every year,” the Colorado Lottery warns on its website.
“Most of those are smaller prizes like $1 or $2.
“If we have a larger prize that is about to expire, we will try to alert the media and post on our social media pages to hopefully find the rightful winner.”
In Colorado, lottery winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their winnings.
For this lucky ticket, the clock started ticking on December 16 and it stops next Friday.
And with the Powerball drawing now nearly six months behind us, officials fear the ticket may be sitting forgotten in a drawer, coat pocket or glove box.
The Colorado Lottery is urging players to dig through their belongings – and not to delay.
Winners of more than $600, like this potential multi-millionaire, can claim their prize in person, online, or by mailing in their ticket and claim form.
This looming deadline comes as a string of major unclaimed prizes hang in the balance across the country.
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In Louisiana, a $50,000 Powerball ticket bought at Meraux Food Store also from the December 16 drawing is about to expire — the same day as the $2 million Colorado win.
That winner matched four white balls, but missed out on doubling their prize to $100,000 by not selecting the Power Play option, according to the Powerball website.
Meanwhile, in Illinois, lottery officials are scrambling to locate the owner of a $1.1 million Lucky Day Lotto ticket bought in Chicago last September.
That player has until early September 2025 to come forward — but if they don’t, the prize disappears forever.
Back in Minnesota, one lucky player has already struck gold.
A North 5 ticket worth $276,186 was sold on May 31 at The Corner Store in Inver Grove Heights.
At least in that case, someone’s winning gamble has been rewarded.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
