Checking your ticket after a long shift? You aren’t alone. Thousands of North Carolinians did the exact same thing this morning. The north carolina powerball numbers last night were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51, and the red Powerball was 2.
The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
If you didn’t see your exact numbers on the screen, don't toss that slip into the trash bin just yet. Honestly, the jackpot is the headline, but the smaller wins are where the real action happened across the state. Nobody hit the big $156 million jackpot on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Because of that, the pot is officially swelling. It’s sitting at an estimated $179 million for the upcoming Saturday drawing.
Did Anyone in North Carolina Win?
While the $156 million grand prize remained elusive, the NC Education Lottery reported a solid wave of local winners. No one in the Tar Heel State woke up as a multi-millionaire this time, but the mid-tier prizes were active.
Basically, 8 players across North Carolina matched four white balls. That's usually a $100 prize. However, three of those smart folks added the Power Play for an extra buck, doubling their take-home to $200. Another 31 players matched three white balls plus the Powerball, also netting $100 (or $200 with the multiplier).
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It adds up.
When you look at the lower tiers—matching just the Powerball or a couple of numbers—over 12,000 tickets in North Carolina won something. It might just be $4 or $7, but hey, that’s a free lunch or at least a few more tickets for Saturday.
The Double Play Factor
Did you spend the extra dollar for Double Play? Many people forget to check these. The Double Play drawing happens right after the main one, using the same ticket but a different set of numbers.
Last night’s Double Play numbers were: 6, 20, 28, 47, 48 with a Powerball of 3.
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Double Play has a top cash prize of $10 million. It’s a North Carolina favorite because even if you strike out on the main draw, you get a second life.
North Carolina Powerball Numbers Last Night: A Breakdown of the Odds
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Those are "lightning strike" odds. But people win. Just this week, a woman in Guilford County pocketed a $1 million prize from a different drawing. It happens.
Here is how the prize tiers shook out for North Carolina last night:
- 5 White Balls + Powerball: $156 Million (0 winners)
- 5 White Balls: $1 Million (0 winners in NC, though 2 hit in Texas)
- 4 White Balls + Powerball: $50,000 (0 winners in NC)
- 4 White Balls: $100 (5 winners) or $200 with Power Play (3 winners)
- 3 White Balls + Powerball: $100 (20 winners) or $200 with Power Play (10 winners)
It’s kinda fascinating how the Power Play works. If the jackpot is under $150 million, they can even have a 10x multiplier. Since we are over that mark now, the 10x is off the table, but that 2x from last night still helped a few dozen North Carolinians double their "gas money" wins.
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Where the Money Goes
When you search for north carolina powerball numbers last night, you’re usually looking for a payday. But even if you lost, the money stays local. The NC Education Lottery is a massive engine for the state. We’re talking about billions of dollars funneled into school construction, pre-K programs, and college scholarships over the years.
Every time you buy a ticket in Raleigh, Charlotte, or a tiny gas station in the Outer Banks, a chunk of that goes to the state's Education Lottery Fund. In 2025 alone, the lottery raised over $1 billion for education.
What You Should Do Next
If you realize you have a winning ticket, take a breath. Don't post it on Facebook.
- Sign the back immediately. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." That means whoever holds it, owns it. If you lose a signed ticket, it's much harder for someone else to claim it.
- Store it somewhere safe. Not on the dashboard of your truck.
- Check the expiration. In North Carolina, you have 180 days to claim prizes from draw games like Powerball. If you wait 181 days, that money goes back into the pot for the state.
- Claiming your prize. If you won under $600, you can usually claim it at any authorized lottery retailer. If you were one of the lucky ones hitting the $50k or $1 million mark, you'll need to head to one of the regional offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro, Greenville, or Wilmington.
The next drawing is Saturday night. The jackpot is now $179 million with a cash value of $80.8 million. If you’re playing, get your tickets before 9:59 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Verify your tickets using the official NC Lottery mobile app. It has a built-in scanner that takes the guesswork out of reading the numbers yourself. If you're holding a ticket from last night, scan it now to ensure you aren't leaving money on the table. For prizes over $100,000, consult with a financial advisor before heading to the lottery headquarters in Raleigh.