Historic Powerball jackpot, family birthdays, lead North Carolina man to $2 million prize

A man from North Carolina won $2 million in the historic Powerball drawing on Sept 30 by selecting the numbers based on his family's birthdays.

Robert Crumel from Middlesex, North Carolina, purchased a Powerball ticket with the Power Play option for $3 at the Murphy Express on East Gannon Avenue in Zebulon.

The winning numbers for the drawing were 19, 30, 37, 44, and 46, with a Powerball number of 22. Crumel won a $1 million prize for matching all five white ball numbers.

Since Crumel bought a ticket with Power Play, he won $2 million after the multiplier was drawn as 2X.

Lottery officials have confirmed that only one other player in the country won a $1 million prize that night. The winning ticket was purchased in Indiana.

Crumel said he immediately shared the news of his luck with his entire family, who had unknowingly helped him.

"I called my whole family, all my kids," Crumel said to the North Carolina Lottery. "I won on numbers I picked from the birthdays of all my kids and grandkids."

Crumel told the North Carolina Lottery he had been playing Powerball since it came out in 1992.

"I kept on playing, never gave up, and my day finally came," Crumel told NC Lottery. "I needed it, and my family needed it too."

After visiting Lottery headquarters in Raleigh on Monday, Crumel claimed the grand prize of $1,425,012 received after paying all the necessary federal and state taxes.

He intends to use the prize money solely for the benefit of his family.

The upcoming Powerball drawing on Sat., Oct. 7 at 10:59 pm Eastern Time is offering a whopping jackpot of $1.4 billion, making it the 3rd-largest Powerball jackpot ever and the 5th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States.

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Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.  

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.