Charlotte, North Carolina — The Powerball jackpot has soared to an impressive $126 million after a ticket sold in North Carolina managed to match all but one of the winning numbers. The ticket holder missed the corresponding Powerball number, nonetheless securing a $1 million prize.

During the latest drawing on Monday, the winning numbers were 6, 19, 22, 28, 48, with the Powerball being 24. Despite this near miss, the North Carolina winner achieved a significant payout, illustrating the life-altering potential of lottery draws.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot, which requires matching all five numbers plus the Powerball, stand at approximately one in 292.2 million. In recent weeks, lottery enthusiasts have watched as the prize grew without a jackpot winner for eight consecutive drawings since a previous winner claimed the Powerball back on January 21, with a massive sum of $209 million.

The upcoming Powerball drawing is set for Wednesday night at 7:59 PM PT. Lottery players are eagerly anticipating the chance for another sizable jackpot, especially after a recent ticket in California matched four numbers and the Powerball, earning a $56,279 prize but falling short of the $102 million jackpot.

Such fortunes can have drastic effects on a person’s life. The largest lottery winner in U.S. history, Edwin Castro, took home an astonishing $2.04 billion prize in 2022, a record that continues to inspire hopeful players.

The Powerball is played across multiple states, with the notable exceptions being Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. As excitement builds around the next drawing, players from various regions remain hopeful for a life-changing windfall.