Current:Home > InvestVirginia woman wins Powerball's third-prize from $1.55 billon jackpot-LoTradeCoin
Virginia woman wins Powerball's third-prize from $1.55 billon jackpot
View Date:2024-12-24 10:49:54
A Virginia woman won Powerball's third-prize after taking a chance on an October drawing in which the jackpot topped $1 billion.
Kathryn Vega, an accountant from Chesterfield County in Virginia, won $150,000 after matching four of the six white Powers from an Oct. 9 Powerball drawing.
When the Powerball jackpot reached a staggering $1.55 billion, Vega's husband didn't hesitate to purchase tickets at the Food Lion at 13530 Genito Road in Midlothian.
After buying multiple tickets, none of them won the $1.55 billion jackpot, but one of the tickets won Vega $150,000.
"It was surreal!" Vega later told Virginia Lottery officials. "We couldn't believe it."
The winning numbers in the October 9, 2023, drawing were 16-34-46-55-67, and the Powerball number was 14. Since she matched four white balls and the Powerball, she was supposed to win $50,000. However, since her husband spent an extra dollar to buy the Power Play, her winnings ballooned to $150,000.
According to the Virginia Lottery, Vega has no immediate plans for the winnings.
The Virginia Lottery profits fund K-12 education in Virginia. Chesterfield County received over $33.6 million in Lottery funds last year, The Virginia Lottery said. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Lottery raised $867 million for K-12 education, accounting for 10% of Virginia's K-12 school budget.
More winners:Michigan woman becomes first grand prize winner of state's Halloween-themed instant game
What are the odds of winning the Powerball?
It's understandable that some lottery players are enticed by the whopping $100 million jackpot, but it's essential to keep in mind that the chances of winning Powerball's top prize are exceedingly slim.
- The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.
- The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize (across all tiers) are about 1 in 24.9.
To participate in the Powerball game, players can purchase a ticket for $2 per play. The game requires players to choose five numbers from one to 69 for the white balls, and one number from one to 26 for the red Powerball. Alternatively, players can opt to receive random numbers.
In order to win the jackpot, it is necessary to match the numbers for all of the five white balls and the red Powerball.
In addition to the grand prize, Powerball offers eight other ways to win based on the number of matched balls in the non-jackpot tiers.
The non-jackpot prizes offered range from $4 to $1 million. By paying an additional $1, you can choose to participate in "Powerplay" that increases non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times.
According to Powerball, the 10X Powerplay option is exclusively applicable to jackpots worth $150 million or less. Additionally, the game's "Match 5" prize for the second-tier is limited to a maximum of $2 million if the Powerplay feature is utilized.
An additional add-on feature called "Double Play," which gives players another chance to match their numbers after each Powerball drawing, is available in some jurisdictions for $1 per play.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Inside Dream Kardashian's Sporty 8th Birthday Party
- Video of 2 bear cubs pulled from trees prompts North Carolina wildlife investigation but no charges
- FAA investigating after it says a flight told to cross a runway where another was starting takeoff
- Trader Joe's recalls basil from shelves in 29 states after salmonella outbreak
- DWTS’ Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Have the Best Reaction to Fans Hoping for a Romance
- Venue changes, buzzy promotions: How teams are preparing for Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut
- Dubious claims about voting flyers at a migrant camp show how the border is inflaming US politics
- Cannabis seizures at checkpoints by US-Mexico border frustrates state-authorized pot industry
- 2024 'virtually certain' to be warmest year on record, scientists say
- Taylor Swift Surprises Fans With Double Album Drop of The Tortured Poets Department
Ranking
- Businesses at struggling corner where George Floyd was killed sue Minneapolis
- Outage that dropped 911 calls in 4 states caused by light pole installation, company says
- Review: HBO's Robert Durst documentary 'The Jinx' kills it again in Part 2
- House GOP's aid bills for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan advance — with Democrats' help
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 12 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language
- Cannabis seizures at checkpoints by US-Mexico border frustrates state-authorized pot industry
- California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language
Recommendation
-
Prayers and cheeseburgers? Chiefs have unlikely fuel for inexplicable run
-
Taylor Swift Surprises Fans With Double Album Drop of The Tortured Poets Department
-
Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist, dies at 80
-
Did Zendaya Just Untangle the Web of When She Started Dating Tom Holland? Here's Why Fans Think So
-
LSU student arrested over threats to governor who wanted a tiger at college football games
-
Inside Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery's Winning Romance
-
Probe underway into highway school bus fire that sent 10 students fleeing in New Jersey
-
As electric car sales slump, Tesla shares relinquish a year's worth of gains