Mum wins £1million on New Year's Eve days after going on plane for first time

06 January 2024 , 07:00

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The moment Pamela found out she became the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year (Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)

A mum who won $1 million on New Year's Eve during a VIP trip to New York has revealed she cried with happiness when the plane took off - because it was the first time she had ever been on an aircraft.

Pamela Bradshaw, of Clinton, North Carolina, became the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year at just after midnight on Sunday. She found out she had won the huge prize during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 live on ABC.

Amazingly, Pamela was in New York for the live show because she had won a VIP trip to the city and became one of five Powerball players chosen nationally for a chance to win $1 million in the drawing. It was extra special, however, as the holiday provided the mum her first opportunity to fly on a plane.

“I cried on the plane ride and I cried at the Statue of Liberty,” she told North Carolina Education Lottery. “It’s just been so incredible.”

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Pamela Bradshaw celebrates her huge win with daughter Joanna (Penske Media via Getty Images)

Pamela's four-day, three-night trip for two included an exclusive New Year’s Eve gala in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. She made the trip with her daughter, Joanna. When Ryan Seacrest called out Pamela's number during the live show, she dropped on the floor overwhelmed with emotions.

After being helped back to her feet by the host and her daughter, Seacrest said to the mum: "Pamela... first time here in New York City and you’re walking away in the new year a millionaire." Pamela responded: "Thank you God. I am so blessed. I'm so blessed."

Pamela collapses to the floor during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 live on ABC (Penske Media via Getty Images)

When asked about the plans for the winning money, Pamela said: "I would love to have my own home that is mine and that I feel safe in. I can have my own house and fix it up pretty and clean and feel safe. Not anything fancy or big, just a little cottage or something with one or two bedrooms.”

Pamela's win means it is the second year in a row that a North Carolinian won $1 million on New Year’s Eve in the Powerball promotion. It comes after a lucky lottery player won an enormous $842.4 million (£665 million) Powerball jackpot on New Year's Day.

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Pamela's trip to New York was the first time she had ever been on a plane (Penske Media via Getty Images)

The winner from Michigan is the first person to bag the top prize on New Year's Day since the game began in 1992. The winning numbers were: 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and red Powerball: 1.

We don't know who the lucky ticket holder is yet, but they can choose between a yearly payout of $842.4 million over 30 years, or a one-off payment of $425.2 million (£336 million). Both options are before taxes. Before the draw, it was thought that the jackpot was $810 million, but final ticket sales pushed it up to $842.4 million. This makes it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the 10th-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won.

Sam Truelove