Carlos Mabry from Washington D.C. has become the first millionaire of the year in a special Powerball promotion held minutes after 2021 began. The lucky winner is now planning to use his money to help local good causes.

    Mabry was one of five finalists in the national competition, having initially come through a second chance draw in his state earlier in the year. Go to the First Powerball Millionaire page to find out more information about how the promotion works.

    He was named as the winner during ABC’s live broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Hosts Ryan Seacrest and country music star Jessie James Decker broke the news, leaving Mabry stunned and delighted.

    He had earlier declared that he would help out a number of organizations close to his heart if he won. "I’ll be making donations to my church first and foremost, I’ll be making donations to St. Jude, The Diabetes Foundation, a local housing counseling agency, a local food bank.

    Mabry also revealed that he never missed a Powerball drawing, buying a ticket every Wednesday and Saturday. However, he had never previously been anywhere near as lucky. "Up until this, the most I have won was $18," he said.

    "Congratulations to the Powerball First Millionaire of 2021," said May Scheve Reardon, Powerball Product Group Chair and Missouri Lottery Executive Director. "Powerball and its lottery partners look forward to sharing more thrilling moments of winning in the New Year, while raising funds for vital public programs and services across the country."

    Huge Jackpot To Kick Off 2021

    The first Powerball drawing of the year on Saturday night came and went without a winner, so the jackpot is already worth more than at any point during 2020. The grand prize for the next drawing on Wednesday is $410 million.

    The largest Powerball jackpot of 2020 came all the way back on January 29th, when Florida accountant Sheryll Goedert claimed $396 million on behalf of a group known as Vacation Life LLC.

    The spread of coronavirus last year impacted on ticket sales and the jackpot rules were consequently changed, with the starting top prize dropping from its previous $40 million. The minimum rollover was also scrapped.

    You can try to land the Powerball jackpot every Wednesday and Saturday night, and check the latest results after every drawing.