Jerry Ragsdale of Casper, Wyoming, believes the old adage, “you can’t win if you don’t play,” could not be more true. Ragsdale recently bought a Powerball ticket, his second time playing, and with that Quick Pick ticket, he became a millionaire.
Ragsdale was going about his life, selling and servicing drilling rigs throughout Wyoming, when he decided to buy a Powerball ticket on September 3 during the recent jackpot run-up. He got his ticket from the Loaf n’ Jug at 3036 College Dr. in Rock Springs.
The jackpot was $1.4 billion at the time, but it grew to $1.8 billion for the Powerball drawing on September 5, which resulted in two jackpot winners from Texas and Missouri. This was the second largest jackpot in Powerball history.
Ragsdale’s ticket matched five numbers on the Power Play, winning him $2 million. He was one of four people nationwide to win $2 million that day, along with winners from Michigan, Oregon, and Texas.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each, and players can add the Power Play for an extra $1, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times.
On that random Wednesday, Ragsdale chose to receive the Power Play.
“My boss had to double check my ticket for me—I just couldn’t believe I won that much money,” Ragsdale stated.
The 48-year-old single father expressed his excitement about setting up college funds for his two teenage daughters, paying off his mortgage, and investing in the oil and gas industry.
“This is what the lottery is all about: changing lives. And we hear Jerry is hoping his luck will carry his 49ers to the Super Bowl this season, and he will be there to watch,” said WyoLotto CEO Jon Clontz.
