Va. grocery store worker's lottery ticket mistake turns into $7 million grand prize

Comment #46

Murgatroyd — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 03:38:35 GMT

About $4.3 million.

Comment #45

xstreamgaming15 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 02:07:26 GMT

Since Mr. Donnelly chose the lump sum how much would he get after taxes? Also how dose a state participate in the Cash 4 Life lottery game it would be nice to have here in California.

Comment #44

One-Day — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 02:02:10 GMT

Sometimes these kind of things pay; sometimes not much but I like all that. The other day I went to the store to buy a megamillion ticket. Cashier guy said, sorry, I tried to run it and machine said they are doing the drawing at this moment. I said that's ok, give me a ticket for the next drawing. He said he couldn't do anything during a drawing and that I had missed the chance to buy it by 6 minutes. Immediately I got a MM ticket at the store and put the number 6 as Megaball and 5 other numbers... [ More ]

Comment #43

myturn — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:50:25 GMT

I hope the Virginia Lottery will reconsider this policy. If you live in Virginia , please email the lottery in support of the right of winners' to remain anonymous.

Comment #42

myturn — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:42:30 GMT

Can I remain anonymous when I claim my lottery winnings?

When you win the Lottery in Virginia, it s not a secret! Your name, hometown, prize amount, date of win and where you bought the ticket are all public record. In addition, if you win a larger or unusual prize, we post a news release with your photo (yes, your photo will be taken when you collect that prize).

The news release and photo can be posted on our website, Facebook page, other social media platforms like Twitter, or other

Comment #41

ohiopick3 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 01:36:35 GMT

Very nice luck! The most I ever got on a mistake was $291.50 on a pick 3 by a clerk playing my wrong number.

Good for the Man! Enjoy the cash

Comment #40

Tony Numbers — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:35:51 GMT

If the customer accepted the ticket, the customer would have won 7 million dollars. No need to overcomplicate this issue.

Comment #39

KY Floyd — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:10:56 GMT

If the customer had accepted the ticket a lot of things would have changed. The only questions are exactly what those changes would have been, and whether or not you can recognize any of them.

The interaction between the clerk and the customer would have been different. The customer might have finished a tiny bit sooner or a tiny bit later. That would affect everybody that might have been waiting in line behind that customer. It might have had an effect on what the clerk did next and how soon... [ More ]

Comment #38

LottoLucy — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:16:58 GMT

The biggest argument for taking the cash is trust. Do you trust that the prize will actually be paid out over your lifetime? Keep in mind you are dealing with a government entity. For instance, just last summer/fall the state of Illinois stopped paying out on winning lottery tickets and presumably annuity checks for past winners due to a budget impasse. What happens to you if for some reason the check doesn't show up on time?

Another consideration is taxes. They could go up or they could go d... [ More ]

Comment #37

American Indian — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:54:20 GMT

If you take the Lump sum and Invest it right you'll have more then you began with and you can put it in trust and leave it for your Family an loved ones in case you don't live long enough (Heaven forbid) to receive all your payments or what if you need extra money for something, then you would have to wait until your next check comes in because those places that will give it too in one lump sum later cost a fortune

Comment #36

American Indian — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:40:40 GMT

This right here is why I told my Son, if the clerk makes a mistake always buy the ticket anyway, you never know it could be the winner

Comment #35

IA-Dreamer — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:05:22 GMT

Hey all.... I'm new to posting here but always enjoy reading comments on here. I was wondering though...

In the case of Cash4 life or Lucky 4 Life that just opened up in Iowa.... wouldn't it make more sense to take the annuity? 7 mil up front sounds good but I'm only 40. 365k per year til I die sounds like a whole lot more.

What arguments would you give to support taking the cash option in this game

Comment #34

Guru101 — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:20:01 GMT

The butterfly effect isn't affecting the ticket that's printed, it's affecting the actual drawing. The butterfly effect can be difficult to explain. In the case of a ball drawing, the balls would have to be arranged in exactly the same fashion, down to the nanometer(probably smaller). This not only includes their initial location after being placed in the machine, but rotation as well, because on the low level those balls are not perfectly round. All this is enough to cause a completely differen... [ More ]

Comment #33

TheMeatman2005 — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:40:25 GMT

Guru101 I have to agree with Tony Numbers on this won (pun intended).

As Tony stated in his comment, the ticket had already been printed and it was just a matter of who purchased it...the customer or Michael!

The Butterfly Effect occurs when something happens to change an event in time. Somewhat like in the movie Back To The Future where Biff as an old man brings the sports book to himself as a young man and changes his destiny

Nothing like that happened in this case. The numbers on th... [ More ]

Comment #32

Groppo — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:17:35 GMT

.

It certainly is the doggonest thing that I've ever heard of happening.

Comment #31

DG1USA — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:25:14 GMT

WTG Mr. Donnelly! I always buy mistakes unless I don't have the cash at the time to do so.

Comment #30

sully16 — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:39:47 GMT

Nice mistake, congrats to Michael.

Comment #29

Tony Numbers — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:45:54 GMT

Since the ticket was already printed it makes no difference whos hand it's in. Had the customer bought the mistake only the title of the story would be different. Customer wins 7 million due to lottery agents mistake.

Comment #28

sweetie7398 — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 06:05:09 GMT

Congratulations to the winner

Comment #27

noise-gate — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 05:19:57 GMT

I am convinced Guru that had the customer brought the mistake ticket, he would have ended up being the winner. The Gloria Effect - named after Ms Mackenzie from FL is worth debating. Golden Gloria asks if she can cut in line to purchase ticket/ tickets. She ends up being the sole jackpot winner. There are those who would claim that the woman who allowed Gloria to cut in line would have ended up being the winner. I however would disagree.

Comment #26

HaveABall — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 04:56:55 GMT

Interesting question, DELotteryPlyr! I think that these folks never recall their ticket(s) decline, and therefore never experience the pain involved had they recalled their action. I think this becomes the best win-win situation/event for all parties involved.

Comment #25

maximumfun — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 02:16:52 GMT

me too

Comment #24

Murgatroyd — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 02:01:46 GMT

Speaking as someone who has actually studied the mathematics of chaos theory, the question is whether, in the time before the drawing, the change caused by buying or not buying the ticket can propagate sufficiently to measurably change the trajectory of the balls or whatever the draw computer uses as a seed for its RNG.

Comment #23

msharkey2001 — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:50:35 GMT

I'm a firm believer in a butterfly effect universe myself, I just don't think this is an example of that.

Comment #22

RSINNOTT — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:08:57 GMT

ALWAYS buy mistake tickets

Comment #21

Tony Numbers — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 23:53:53 GMT

Butterfly effect Universe, Malarkey

Comment #20

DELotteryPlyr — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 23:28:44 GMT

Yea so do you think the customer who said no REMEMBERS this? I don't know what I would do if I found out I said NO to the winning ticket

Comment #19

Guru101 — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 22:10:08 GMT

It's not that Michael was destined to win it, it has to do with the butterfly effect. Had the customer bought the ticket, so much would have changed that the numbers drawn most likely would have been different. An example I use often is lets say that you write down some numbers for tomorrow's Mega Millions drawing, but decide not to play them. If all those numbers are drawn, just because you wrote them down beforehand doesn't mean you would have won had you played them. The universe would have b... [ More ]

Comment #18

noise-gate — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:56:10 GMT

What do you mean Guru? That the numbers would have somehow changed because Michael was destined to win it

Comment #17

Guru101 — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:03:27 GMT

Congratulations to Michael, but remember, even if the customer bought the ticket, doesn't mean they would have won.

Comment #16

HaveABall — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 20:02:59 GMT

Congratulations Michael on your big jackpot win! How exciting! Not sure if your store required mistake tickets to be purchased by you; but anyway -- by force or intelligent choice -- you'll be receiving the big monies to retire from this job

Comment #15

sookie — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:27:47 GMT

Good for him

Comment #14

noise-gate — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:00:36 GMT

Be the fly on the wall..

Michael :Sir, l accidentally punched the wrong ticket for you, totally my fault, however l need to ask, do you want this ticket?

Customer: Does it look like a Powerball ticket to you, does it look like l came in here looking for pennies on my Dollar?

Michael: No problem Sir, just had to ask. .

Congratulations Michael. ....

Comment #13

tnlottodreamer — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 17:28:15 GMT

That is a awesome win. I always ask the store if they have any mistake tickets cause you never know...

Comment #12

Bleudog101 — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:53:17 GMT

I remember Mum telling me donkey's years ago about a customer in WA state where they retired to. This customer refused a 'mistake' ticket. Clerk had to buy it and won $7 or $8 million. Love good Karma stories like these.

Comment #11

dallascowboyfan — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:49:18 GMT

Congratulations

Comment #10

IPlayWeekly — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:26:59 GMT

I bet he's not going to work today, I'd retire myself and wife. We'll travel and run the family business. Congrats.... Now he has real money to play with.

Comment #9

lulu1feather — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:06:46 GMT

And that is why I have kept every Oops . Although, I am still waiting for one of them to have that kind of an outcome!

Congrats to the winner

Comment #8

OneTrickpony — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:58:49 GMT

Good for him, that is awesome! Bet that customer who refused the ticket is kicking himself daily. I always take the mistakes too, because you never know

Comment #7

rcbbuckeye — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:55:11 GMT

If it was a self pick there would most likely have been a play slip, which means there wouldn't have been a mistake.

So, yes, the mistake was very likely a QP. He simply pushed the wrong button on the terminal.

Comment #6

zephbe — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:53:08 GMT

I wish I would have a mistake turn into a win! Congrats to the winner. Enjoy.

Comment #5

haymaker — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:08:37 GMT

How can I make a mistake on purpose ?

Can anyone come up with a system for making mistakes ?

Was the mistake a QP

Comment #4

mypiemaster — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:40:41 GMT

This is precisely why I always buy mine and other peoples' mistake tickets . The store clerks love it. I do not want to be the chump who refused a blessing in disguise just because of a few chump change.

Comment #3

cbr$ — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:18:35 GMT

Congratulation to Michael Donnelly. To win on a mistake ticket. Wow was he blessed

Comment #2

rochanda12 — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:17:42 GMT

Congrats to the grocery store worker and i bet that customer that turned down the ticket is full of regret .He or she should have accepted the ticket .It was a blessing in disguise .

Comment #1

hearsetrax — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:45:28 GMT

Va. grocery store worker's lottery ticket mistake turns into $7 million grand prize

Lottery Post — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:20:51 GMT

A Virginia grocery store employee's mistake during Powerball jackpot fever earlier this month ended up turning into a $7 million windfall.

Michael Donnelly was ringing up Powerball tickets for customers at the Harris Teeter store in Falls Church. But for one transaction, he accidentally punched the wrong button on the lottery terminal and printed a Cash4Life ticket that the customer didn't want.

Donnelly ended up buying the mistake ticket for the January 7th drawing and it turned out to be... [ More ]