Wingate woman buys winning $100K Powerball ticket in Charlotte

RALEIGH, N.C. — Emerita Lopez Varela of Wingate won a $100,000 Powerball prize after purchasing a $3 ticket at Jack Mart on Wilkes Drive in Charlotte.

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Varela matched the numbers on four white balls and the red Powerball in the Dec. 24, 2025, drawing to win an initial amount of $50,000. Because she added the Power Play option to her ticket, her prize doubled to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier was selected.⁣⁣⁣Varela claimed her prize at lottery headquarters on Tuesday and received $72,011 after federal and state tax withholdings.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million.

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