Somebody started the new year off right!
A D.C. man became Powerball’s first millionaire of 2021 during a live New year’s Eve airing on ABC, ABC11 news reports.
This year Powerball partnered with “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” on ABC to announce the annual “First Millionaire of the Year.” During the contest “finalists were randomly selected in a second-chance drawing from participating Powerball jurisdictions.”
The five finalists who had been selected were announced during the live airing. They included Steven Everage from Seymour, Indiana, Sara Bosch from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Laveral King Jr. from Winter Haven, Florida, Shawn Cantrell from Lincoln, Nebraska, and Carlos Mabry from D.C.
After midnight, amidst new year celebrations from correspondents, Seacrest and Jessie James Decker announced Mabry as the winner. The show immediately cuts to a clip of him and his family sitting in their living room. The family was overwhelmed with emotion as his wife visibly shouted at the news. Mabry was left utterly speechless as his kids and wife processed, eventually uttering a “thank you” and giving “all glory to God.”
“Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus,” Mrs. Mabry shouted after the announcement.
While the other finalists didn’t win the $1 million grand prize, they were given a $12,500 cash prize along with a 70-inch LED TV, a karaoke system, and a $500 Party City certificate, among other awards.
Mabry joins Blaine Marston, Powerball’s 2020 millionaire, as a winner of this unique gift.
The “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” show featured entertainers Billy Porter, Ciara, Nelly, Megan Thee Stallion, En Vogue, Ella Mai, Brandy, and PJ Morton.
Congratulations, Mr. Mabry!
Photo Courtesy of ABC