Becky Bell, an Auburn resident and 36-year supply chain analyst for The Boeing Company, claimed a massive $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, the largest lottery prize ever won in Washington State history and the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot at the time. Her winning ticket matched all six numbers (05, 11, 22, 23, 69, and Powerball 07) in the February 6, 2023 drawing.
Bell’s win came about through a unique twist of fate tied to her workplace. While she typically stuck to a strict $20 weekly lottery budget, she went grocery shopping with her daughter on February 5 at the local Fred Meyer supermarket on Auburn Way North. Glancing at the lottery vending machine, she noticed the estimated jackpot stood at $747 million—the exact same week Boeing delivered its final iconic 747 jumbo jet. Taking the matching numbers as a sign, she decided to spend a few extra dollars to purchase one more Quick Pick ticket.
She officially claimed her prize at the Washington’s Lottery headquarters in Olympia on February 28, 2023, choosing the one-time lump-sum cash option of $407.2 million. Because Washington State does not impose state income tax on lottery winnings, her total payout after required federal tax withholdings came to approximately $309.5 million (plus an extra $8 won from a secondary line on her ticket).
Following the life-changing win, Bell moved up her planned Boeing retirement from June to March 2023 after helping train her replacement, stating her priority was to share the funds and ensure financial security for her entire family. In a charitable gesture, the Fred Meyer store in Auburn donated its entire $50,000 retailer bonus from selling the winning ticket directly to the Auburn Food Bank.