Ugly crying and "heart attacks" among group of coworkers celebrating joint win

By Kate Northrop

PARIS, Ky. — An office pool consisting of eight company employees from Kentucky are splitting a $200,000 Powerball lottery prize.

Eight manufacturing company employees couldn't help but feed off each other's enjoyment when they discovered that their lottery group won $200,000 in Powerball.

They all carpooled to Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville bright and smiley with a winning ticket for the Jan. 17, 2026 drawing.

"Total shock," one winner remarked to Lottery staff after entering the lobby.

"I thought I was going to have a heart attack," another said.

The group consists of eight associates who work at Avantor Performance Materials, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Paris, Kentucky. They've been playing the lottery together since they formed their office pool about four years ago, they told the Lottery.

The group's organizer, Tim, will stay up to check their tickets after every Powerball drawing.

"I looked, and then I looked closer," he said, recalling the night of the drawing. "Now my hands are shaking, so I take my tablet and the ticket to my wife, Karen, and ask her to read off the numbers to me."

She thought Tim "was lying" and asked to see the ticket herself.

The winning numbers in the Jan. 17 drawing were 5, 8, 27, 49, and 57, with red Powerball number 14. The ticket had matched four regular white ball numbers plus the Powerball number to win the game's $50,000 prize.

"She got big eyes and said we had won $50,000," Tim said. "I told her we had Power Play on the ticket, so we won $200,000."

Since the drawn Power Play multiplier that night was 4, the would-be $50,000 prize was quadrupled thanks to the $1 add-on.

Tim and Karen Facetimed members of the office pool the next day, giddy to share the news.

"I was at dinner with my family because it was my sister's birthday, and I remember when he called me because I missed his first call," one of the coworkers said in a press release. "I call him back, and it's Karen on the phone. I'm like, 'Oh my God, something has happened to Tim.'"

The news wasn't the "heart attack" that the employees were expecting. They were flooded with relief when they found out that they'd be splitting a $200,000 prize.

"I cried, and I mean crying ugly," another winner quipped.

After taxes, each group member took home $18,000. They plan on using the winnings to pay off bills.

For selling the winning ticket, the retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Lottery.

"Kentucky Lottery office pools are a great way for players to enjoy our games as a group," Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Maggie Garrison said in a statement. "For many, it's a tradition that keeps coworkers and friends connected while having fun. When these groups win, the energy and joy they bring to the office is contagious. It's truly a celebration for everyone."

The next Powerball annuity jackpot estimate for the drawing on Wednesday, Feb. 4 currently stands at $80 million.

Powerball is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.

Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega website provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States' two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Eight Kentucky co-workers celebrate their $200,000 Powerball lottery prize.