LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It wasn’t a billion dollars, but a lucky Kentuckian wasn’t turning his nose up at his $2 million earnings from Saturday night’s Powerball drawing.

What You Need To Know

  •  A Graves County couple won $2 million is Saturday's Powerball drawing

  • After taxes, they took home more than $1.4 million 

  •  The Melton's say a financial planner and a cruise are in their future

  • During this latest jackpot run, Kentucky has crowned four millionaires

Rickie Melton of Symsonia, which is in the far western part of the state, matched five white ball numbers but not the Powerball number to win $1 million. Because he added the Power Play option to his ticket, he doubled his prize to $2 million.

Melton and his wife, Karen, traveled to Louisville to claim their winnings.

“It’s been nerve-wracking knowing we’ve won and having to hold on to the ticket until Wednesday,” Melton said.

Rickie Melton said he was sitting in his driveway when he checked his Powerball tickets to check the numbers.

“I pulled up the winning numbers on my phone and started looking at my tickets. It was the last ticket I checked; I got really nervous about matching the fourth number. On the fifth number, I was so nervous I couldn’t leave the driveway and had to go back into the house,” Rickie Melton said.

Rickie Melton wanted to share the news with his wife, but she was sleeping after working a late shift as a nurse.

“I kept pacing the floor until I just had to go wake her up,” he said. According to him, Karen wasn’t too happy with him at first, but it didn’t take her long to change her mind when she heard the news. 

He bought the $3 winning ticket from a Walmart vending machine in Benton and he let the machine choose the numbers, that’s known as a “Quick Pick.”

Once taxes were paid, the Meltons walked away with a check for more than $1.4 million. The Meltons say they are planning to meet with a financial planner to invest some winnings. The couple plans to enjoy themselves as well buy going on an Alaskan cruise and buying a new car.

So far, during this 96-day jackpot run, the Kentucky Lottery has made four millionaires and given out several other large prizes. Besides the Melton’s $2 million winning ticket, a ticket sold in Midway also matched all five white ball numbers but not the Powerball for $1 million. The ticket has not been claimed. On the Oct. 17 drawing, a Bowling Green couple won $2 million, also using the Power Play feature the Melton’s did. On Aug. 31, a Crittenden winner claimed $1 million.

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