Paul Corcoran, a Fitchburg resident, hit the odds by not just winning a $1 million Powerball prize but doubling it in one go. He won $2 million due to a serendipitous blunder that saw him purchasing an extra Powerball ticket for the same drawing. CBS Boston reports that Corcoran bought his extra ticket after mistakenly thinking that the "multi-draw" ticket he already had did not cover the July 9 drawing, which led to his windfall. The tickets, purchased from two separate locations—a Fitchburg Market Basket and Country Farms in Leominster—matched every winning number except the Powerball on the night in question.
As it happens, the Massachusetts State Lottery indicated that Corcoran initially bought a ticket that was good for seven future Powerball drawings. "Corcoran noted that he initially bought a ticket for seven Powerball drawings and mistakenly thought the final drawing on that ticket had already occurred, leading him to purchase another multi-draw ticket that also included the July 9 drawing," CBS News Boston reports. The winning numbers for that fateful July 9 drawing were 5-9-25-28-69 with a Powerball number of 5, as per the lottery officials.
According to NBC10 Boston, Corcoran's choice to play his own numbers paid off majorly with odds of scoring the $1 million prize sitting at 1 in 11,688,054. He beat this staggering statistic twice with his identical tickets, while the chances of winning the Powerball jackpot was vastly higher, at 1 in 292.2 million. "He chose his own numbers," officials informed NBC10 Boston, shedding light on the method behind the improbable win. Corcoran's windfall didn't just line his pockets—both stores where he bought his tickets will receive a $10,000 bonus.
Despite the windfall, Corcoran is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding future plans. "Corcoran, who claimed his prizes at Lottery headquarters on Friday, told the Lottery that the wins 'feel good,'" according to a CBS News Boston interview. He has yet to decide how he will spend his newfound fortune. Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, having reached $264 million for the next drawing on July 16, ensuring plenty of ticket sales as players dream of following in Corcoran’s surprisingly fortunate footsteps.
