The lucky winners won their prizes on Powerball drawings and scratch-offs games, including a Bronx woman who credits a lucky fortune cookie for her $2 million Powerball win.
Emma Duvoll, 75, used a simple strategy for choosing her numbers for the February 1 drawing -- She found them printed on a fortune cookie.
Five of those numbers matched the numbers drawn, earning Duvoll the multi-million-dollar payday.
"I was surprised, but pleased," Duvoll said. "I took some time contemplating what I will do with the money. I plan to invest most of it and maybe take a trip to Switzerland to visit family."
Another Bronx woman, 34-year-old Syeda Akther, won $5 million in the popular Set for Life scratch-off game on a ticket her husband purchased for her.
She is still unsure of her plans for the money at the moment, but she is considering purchasing a new house and possibly starting her own business.
Karen Axt, 53, of Manhattan, admits she rarely plays lottery games, but on February 15, she decided to make a stop after picking up her dry cleaning to buy two Quick Pick tickets for the Powerball drawing. One of those tickets matched the first five numbers drawn, earning the patent attorney a $1 million payday.
"I've played the lottery I think seven times in my life," she said. "This was only the fourth time I've played Powerball. I guess I was thinking I just needed something good to happen."
Axt is still undecided on what her plans are for the winnings.
I'll invest some and save some," she said. "Maybe put something down on a place in the city. We'll see."
Finally, retired Brooklyn letter carrier Joseph Brown, 60, also won $1 million in a Powerball drawing.
"I was shocked," he said. "I'm still formulating a plan for the money."
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