Mega Millions winner of $2 million had no idea: “Hey, someone won at that little bodega”
John Willis of Chester, Virginia was the lucky winner of a seven-figure sum recently and he nearly forgot to check his numbers.
Winning the lottery is a life-changing moment but one lucky player in Chester, Virginia nearly forgot to check his tickets.
John Willis bought a ticket for the April 19 drawing and forgot about it. A few days later, after the draw had been made, he saw that a winning ticket had been sold at the local shop and remarked: “Hey, someone won at that little bodega!”
It was only when his girlfriend reminded him that he had bought a ticket from that very same bodega that he remembered his purchase. He checked his number and found that he had matched the first five numbers to the draw, earning him a $2 million prize.
He missed out on the final Mega Ball number, which would usually cap his winnings at $1 million. However Willis had spent an extra dollar to make it a ‘Megaplier’ ticket, doubling his earnings to $2 million.
People report that Willis had used the Mega Millions’ ‘Easy Pick’ function, randomly generating a series of numbers for the ticket. On that day he had a 1 in 12,629,932 chance of winning big in that draw, but he overcame the odds to take home a life-changing amount of money.
It was a massive windfall for the Chester resident but it would have been considerably higher if he had managed to match the sixth number too. If he’d got all six correct he would have bagged the jackpot, which stood at $70 million at the time.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment