Lightning has struck twice for a Virginia woman who recently collected her second $100,000 (Rs28 million) lottery prize, more than a decade after her first significant win.
The Virginia Lottery confirmed that Sharon Godsey from Concord recently claimed a $100,000 (Rs28 million) prize from the March 31 Powerball drawing, marking her second major lottery success in twelve years.
Godsey's winning Powerball ticket matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball number. While this combination typically yields a $50,000 prize, Godsey had opted for the Power Play feature for an additional dollar, which doubled her winnings to $100,000 (Rs28 million) when the 2X multiplier was drawn.
"I just hit the floor! My knees collapsed," Godsey told lottery officials, describing her reaction upon realizing she had won.
The fortunate player purchased her winning ticket at Carson Market on Village Highway in her hometown of Concord. This location will now be remembered as the site of her second brush with lottery luck.
Godsey is no stranger to substantial lottery payouts. In 2013, she won the same amount – $100,000 (Rs28 million) – from a Sapphire Riches scratch-off ticket.
The odds of winning $50,000 in Powerball by matching four numbers plus the Powerball are approximately 1 in 913,129, according to lottery statistics. Godsey's decision to add the Power Play option proved especially valuable, as it doubled her prize when the 2X multiplier was selected.
The Virginia Lottery, which began operations in 1988, contributes its profits to K-12 education in the Commonwealth. Last year, the lottery generated more than $700 million for Virginia's public schools.
Lottery experts note that while winning significant prizes multiple times is extremely rare, it does occasionally happen. Several factors, including frequency of play and game selection, can influence a player's chances of repeat wins over an extended period.
Godsey has not publicly shared specific plans for her winnings or whether she intends to continue playing lottery games in the future.
