Aussie woman’s split-second change that led to $60 million Powerball win

A last-minute decision has led to an eye-watering $60 million Powerball win for a lucky NSW woman, who was the sole winner of last night’s jackpot.

The player from Queanbeyan, just outside of Canberra, purchased a PowerHit ticket that automatically secures the Powerball.

She randomly generated the rest of the seven digits, but ended up swapping one of the numbers in a move that ultimately changed her future.

“I can’t believe this is real,” she told officials from The Lott when she received their call on Thursday night.

“It’s insane, absolutely insane! You have no idea how much my head is spinning right now.

“I actually changed one of the numbers on the PowerHit. I did a fast select on the ticket, but then then thought I had too many numbers in the 30s. I had 33 and 34, so I took out 33 and made it 5. How insane is that!”

The new millionaire said she had been struggling with the cost of living, and would immediately pay off her house.

“Up until 10 minutes ago, I had a mortgage,” she said.

“I’ll keep working for now… but it might not be full-time.

“I’m still young enough to enjoy this, share it with the family and make sure everyone’s comfortable for the rest of my life.”

The woman’s win has made her the second-highest Powerball winner this year.

It has also pushed Powerball’s total prize money tally beyond $9 billion.

Since the game’s conception on May 23, 1996, 587 division one winners have taken home $8,975,858,948.18 between them.

Have you ever won millions in the lotto? Contact kpalu@yahooinc.com to share how it changed your life.

2026’s biggest Powerball winner scooped $80m jackpot

In February, a Victorian man won the entire $80m jackpot, instantly becoming one of the state’s biggest lottery winners on record.

Officials from The Lott initially struggled to reach the Altona man after the draw, with calls going straight to voicemail — only for his message bank to be full. After several attempts, he eventually answered.

“Oh my god! Are you joking?!” he cried.

“I can’t believe it! Oh my god! I can’t stop crying. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The man said his “family had been through a rough trot” lately and “this is just the best news”.

“You have no idea how much this means to me,” he said.

“I’ve never won anything in my life.”

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