A Massachusetts man has defied the odds by winning $1 million twice in the same Powerball drawing, all because he forgot he’d already bought a ticket.
As first reported by People, and confirmed by Powerball, Paul Corcoran of Fitchburg claimed two $1 million prizes from the July 9, 2025, Powerball drawing after both of his tickets matched the five white ball numbers: 5, 9, 25, 28, and 69.
Corcoran had initially purchased a multi-draw ticket that was valid for seven consecutive drawings, including July 9. Believing that drawing had already passed, he mistakenly bought another identical ticket also covering the same draw. But it was this happy mistake that led to a life-changing double win.
Massachusetts man wins $1 million twice in one night
Corcoran claimed both prizes at the Lottery’s headquarters in Dorchester on July 11 and told the Massachusetts Lottery the wins “feel good,” adding that he doesn’t yet have plans for the money.
The July 9 drawing produced eight $1 million “Match 5” winners across the country, and Corcoran happened to hold two of them. According to Powerball, the odds of matching five white balls to win a $1 million prize are approximately 1 in 11.7 million. That makes a double win in the same draw with two separate tickets incredibly rare.
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The odds of hitting the jackpot, matching all five numbers plus the red Powerball, are 1 in 292.2 million, which makes Corcoran’s win even more incredible.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.