Massachusetts Man Receives $546K After Beating Nearly Impossible Odds to Win Lottery Twice in One Day
A Massachusetts man was rewarded with over a half a million dollars after he beat nearly impossible odds and coincidentally won the same lottery drawing twice in one day.
The odds of winning twice in one lottery drawing are one in 985,517, however Kenneth J. Stokes of Norwood received a $546,000 payout after his lucky numbers helped him win twice earlier this week.
The deputy sheriff says he purchased a Massachusetts State Lottery Lucky for Life ticket at the Convenience Food Mart in Norwood on Monday. However, he forgot that he was already a lottery season ticket holder, which automatically enters his selected numbers into every drawing of a certain lottery. His family purchased the pass at the Sulgrave News in Boston and gave it to him as a gift.
He says he received a phone call from lottery officials informing him of the good news on Tuesday morning.
"The representative called the individual who was the owner of the season ticket and informed him of that and then he was obviously elated to find out that he had won on that ticket," Massachusetts State Lottery director of communications Christian Teja told ABC News.
"They hung up and he realized that he had purchased the same ticket on his own for that same drawing. During the phone call when they had spoken, the representative had mentioned there was another winner [from] Norwood. He called back and it all came together when he was like, 'I'm that guy in Norwood.'"
Stokes used his winning tickets to claim his prize on Thursday, which was $25,000 a year for up to 20 years, or $500,000. However, he opted for a one-time cash payment, which was $390,000 and $273,000 after taxes. Altogether, he walked away with $546,000 due to his double earnings.
Despite receiving two checks for $390,000 each, Strokes says he plans to live a modest lifestyle and use his winnings to pay for his son's college tuition and his daughter's car payments. He also said he will take his family on vacation, but he'll be flying coach.
"No, I'm a regular guy I'm gonna be back in the back [of the plane,]" Stokes said. "I have 22 years on my job, I've got a few years for retirement it's something that helps that nest egg a little that's all."
Both stores where each winning ticket was purchased will receive a $5,000 bonus.
Note: This article has been updated to state the odds of winning are in fact one in 985,517 as the winner played the same numbers on both tickets. The odds would have been one in 9.7 trillion if he had played different numbers on both tickets.
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