North Carolina Man Becomes First Powerball Millionaire of 2023

The special promotion, known as the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year, has been running since its first draw took place in the early minutes of 2020.

This year’s draw was the fourth in total and followed a similar format to previous editions, with a number of winners initially selected at state level and awarded prizes set out by each individual jurisdictions.

A final draw then took place to decide the big winner. This year the finalists were back in New York City for a VIP experience, culminating in the countdown to midnight on 31^st December.

Broadcast live on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023” on ABC, a delighted Gary Krigbaum was named as the recipient of $1 million just after the clock had struck 12. It was his daughter, Sarah Day, that was the recipient at the event on his behalf.

"Dad, Dad, I'm bringing home a million dollars," Sarah Day was heard saying after she was selected as the lucky winner. She went on to say "I don't know what to say, I want my dad to have as much of it as possible. I want him to go fishing and get his truck and whatever he needs."

Earlier in December, it was announced that the finalists advancing to the next round were: Sharon Vandergriff (Arizona), Ursula Logan (D.C.), Shelly Stanley (Delaware), Phaedra Moore (Florida), Kiarra Poindexter (Georgia), Christina Manuel (Iowa), Christopher LePeilbet (Idaho), Cynthia Hines-Butler (Illinois), Heather Petty (Indiana), Barbara Warner (Kansas), Deborah Wimsatt (Kentucky), Marcel Breaux (Louisiana), Ulric Thomas (Maryland), Gregory Swain (Maine), Jared Jank (Minnesota), J. Brown (Mississippi), Andrew Gideon (Montana), Gary Krigbaum (North Carolina), Leslie Moe (North Dakota), Norman Hall (Nebraska), David Howard (New Mexico), Tracy Gretz (Pennsylvania), James Iwuc (Rhode Island), Gabriella Anane (South Dakota), Chetnaben Patel (Tennessee), David Younce (Virginia), Vanesa Garcia (Virgin Islands), Amy Hughes (Wisconsin), Gary Hicks (West Virginia).

The latest winner follows in the footsteps of Brian Mineweaser from Honey Brook in Pennsylvania, who became the first Powerball millionaire of 2022 at the same time last year.

Carlos Mabry from Washington D.C. won in 2021, while Blaine Marston from Passadumkeag in Maine was the first winner in 2020.