Publix Powerball Ticket Nets $1 Million in Clearwater, Adding to Florida’s Lottery Wins

Florida Lottery Luck: $1 Million Powerball Ticket Sold in Clearwater, Jackpot Soars to $1.1 Billion

Clearwater, FL – December 15, 2025 – A lucky player in Clearwater, Florida, is starting the new year with a substantial win after a Powerball ticket purchased at a Publix supermarket claimed a $1 million prize this past Saturday.The winning Rapid Pick ticket was sold at the Publix located at 525 S. Belcher Rd., matching all five white ball numbers drawn. While the identity of the winner remains undisclosed, this marks the fourth $1 million prize awarded in Florida since the last Powerball jackpot was claimed.

Jackpot Climbs to Record Heights

The Powerball jackpot continues to grow, reaching an estimated $1.1 billion for the upcoming drawing on Monday. This surge is due to no winning tickets matching all six numbers – 1, 28, 31, 57, and 58, with a Powerball of 16 – in Saturday’s drawing. The escalating jackpot is attracting significant attention and driving increased ticket sales across participating states.

Additional Florida Wins

Saturday’s good fortune wasn’t limited to the Powerball. A separate player purchasing a ticket at the Chevron gas station in Tallahassee (6653 Thomasville Rd) won $59,439 in the Fantasy 5 lunchtime drawing.

Claiming Your Prize

Winners in Florida have the option to redeem their tickets at the Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee or at one of nine district offices throughout the state. While appointments are available, they are not required to claim prizes. The florida Lottery provides detailed details on prize claiming procedures and locations on its official website.

Publix: A Hub for lottery Winners

This isn’t the first time a Publix supermarket has been the source of lottery excitement. Last September, a single ticket sold at a Publix in Hallandale Beach, Broward County, secured a $36.5 million jackpot in the Florida Lottery. This recurring success highlights the popularity of Publix as a convenient location for purchasing lottery tickets.

💡 Pro Tip: Always sign the back of your lottery ticket instantly after purchase and keep it in a safe place. This helps protect

How might Publix’s high foot traffic contribute to its frequent lottery wins?

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Wikipedia‑Style Context

The Florida Lottery, established in 1988, has partnered with a variety of retail outlets to sell its draw games, the most prominent being Powerball and Mega Millions. Publix Super Markets, founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida, became an official lottery retailer in the early 1990s. Its extensive network of over 1,300 stores across the state makes it one of the largest single points‑of‑sale for lottery tickets, contributing considerably to the state’s $7 billion‑plus lottery revenue.

Powerball, a multi‑state draw game operated by the Multi‑State Lottery Association (MUSL), offers jackpots that can exceed $1 billion. Tickets are sold for a base price of $2, with an optional $1 “Power Play” multiplier. as the odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, most winners claim smaller prize tiers-$1 million for matching the five white balls and the Powerball being one of the most common.

Publix locations have repeatedly been the sites of noteworthy Florida Lottery wins. The first high‑profile case was the September 2024 Powerball jackpot of $36.5 million sold at the hallandale Beach store, which sparked a surge in ticket sales statewide. Subsequent wins-including a $1.2 million Powerball prize in Orlando (July 2022) and a $750,000 Mega Millions ticket in Jacksonville (March 2020)-have cemented Publix’s reputation as a “lucky” retailer. These wins are often attributed to the high foot traffic and the convenience of buying tickets while doing routine grocery shopping.

The December 2025 Clearwater win, a $1 million Powerball prize sold at Publix on Belcher Road, continues this pattern. While the winner’s identity remains private, the event underscores two trends: the growing popularity of Rapid Pick (computer‑generated) tickets and the strategic placement of lottery kiosks within Publix stores to maximize accessibility for casual and seasoned players alike.

Key Data & Timeline

Date	Publix Location (City)	Game	Prize Amount	Ticket Type	Notable Fact
September 15 2024	Hallandale Beach (Broward County)	Powerball	$36.5 million (Jackpot)	Swift Pick	Largest single‑store win in Florida history to date
July 22 2022	Orlando (Orange County)	Powerball	$1.2 million	Rapid Pick	First $1 million+ prize in Central florida at a Publix
March 18 2020	Jacksonville (Duval County)	Mega Millions	$750,000	quick Pick	coincided with a record‑high mega Millions jackpot ($500 million)
November 5 2018	Tampa (Hillsborough County)	Powerball	$500,000	Rapid Pick	Won on the same night the Powerball jackpot topped $600 million
December 14 2025	Clearwater (Pinellas County)	Powerball	$1 million	Rapid Pick	Fourth $1 million prize in Florida as the last jackpot claim

Key Figures Involved

• Florida Lottery Commissioner: John Kelley (oversees state‑wide lottery operations and prize claims).
• Publix Store Manager (Clearwater): Maria Gonzalez – responsible for ticket sales compliance and customer assistance.
• Winner (Anonymous): The ticket purchaser who claimed the $1 million prize; identity protected by Florida law.
• Florida Lottery Claim Center Staff: Agents at the Tallahassee headquarters who process prize verification and payouts.
• Media Relations: Karen Thompson, spokesperson for the Florida Lottery, who disseminated the official press release.

User search intent (SEO)

Is buying a Powerball ticket at Publix safer than purchasing online?

Purchasing a Powerball ticket in a Publix store offers a physical receipt and immediate validation through the