Virginia woman wins Powerball's third-prize from $1.55 billon jackpot

A Virginia woman won Powerball's third-prize after taking a chance on an October drawing in which the jackpot topped $1 billion.

Kathryn Vega, an accountant from Chesterfield County in Virginia, won $150,000 after matching four of the six white Powers from an Oct. 9 Powerball drawing.

When the Powerball jackpot reached a staggering $1.55 billion, Vega's husband didn't hesitate to purchase tickets at the Food Lion at 13530 Genito Road in Midlothian.

After buying multiple tickets, none of them won the $1.55 billion jackpot, but one of the tickets won Vega $150,000.

"It was surreal!" Vega later told Virginia Lottery officials. "We couldn't believe it."

The winning numbers in the October 9, 2023, drawing were 16-34-46-55-67, and the Powerball number was 14. Since she matched four white balls and the Powerball, she was supposed to win $50,000. However, since her husband spent an extra dollar to buy the Power Play, her winnings ballooned to $150,000.

According to the Virginia Lottery, Vega has no immediate plans for the winnings.

The Virginia Lottery profits fund K-12 education in Virginia. Chesterfield County received over $33.6 million in Lottery funds last year, The Virginia Lottery said. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Lottery raised $867 million for K-12 education, accounting for 10% of Virginia's K-12 school budget.

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What are the odds of winning the Powerball?

It's understandable that some lottery players are enticed by the whopping $100 million jackpot, but it's essential to keep in mind that the chances of winning Powerball's top prize are exceedingly slim.

• The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.
• The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize (across all tiers) are about 1 in 24.9.  

To participate in the Powerball game, players can purchase a ticket for $2 per play. The game requires players to choose five numbers from one to 69 for the white balls, and one number from one to 26 for the red Powerball. Alternatively, players can opt to receive random numbers.

In order to win the jackpot, it is necessary to match the numbers for all of the five white balls and the red Powerball.

In addition to the grand prize, Powerball offers eight other ways to win based on the number of matched balls in the non-jackpot tiers.

The non-jackpot prizes offered range from $4 to $1 million. By paying an additional $1, you can choose to participate in "Powerplay" that increases non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times.

According to Powerball, the 10X Powerplay option is exclusively applicable to jackpots worth $150 million or less. Additionally, the game's "Match 5" prize for the second-tier is limited to a maximum of $2 million if the Powerplay feature is utilized.

An additional add-on feature called "Double Play," which gives players another chance to match their numbers after each Powerball drawing, is available in some jurisdictions for $1 per play.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.