Kentucky Man Wins $1M Lottery, Plans To Pay Off Family Debts

Kentucky Man Wins $1M Lottery, Plans To Pay Off Family Debts...

James Milby, a 54-year-old construction worker from Louisville, Kentucky, won a $1 million Powerball prize in Wednesday night's drawing. The Kentucky Lottery confirmed his win Thursday morning, making him the state's latest millionaire overnight.

Milby purchased the winning ticket at a Speedway gas station on Outer Loop Road. He matched five numbers but missed the Powerball, securing the game's second-tier prize. The odds of winning were 1 in 11.6 million.

The winner told lottery officials he plans to use the money to pay off debts for his extended family. "My sister's medical bills, my brother's mortgage - this takes care of everybody," Milby said during the prize claim. He'll take home about $710,000 after taxes.

The story went viral Thursday as Americans celebrated the blue-collar worker's selfless intentions. Social media users praised Milby's priorities, with #FamilyFirst trending on Twitter. The win comes during a surge in lottery sales, with Powerball jackpots reaching $800 million twice this year.

Kentucky Lottery president Mary Harville noted Milby's win highlights how "life-changing" smaller-tier prizes can be. The Speedway store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Milby says he'll keep working but may "buy a nicer fishing boat."