An American man luckily won two $1 million prizes each, simply because he accidentally bought two identical tickets for the same Powerball draw.

A rare stroke of luck recently occurred in Massachusetts: Paul Corcoran, a resident of Fitchburg, unexpectedly won a total of $2 million in the July 9 Powerball draw due to a simple mistake.

Earlier, Corcoran had purchased a ticket for seven consecutive draws. However, thinking the last draw of the ticket had already passed, he decided to buy another one—unintentionally duplicating the same draw for which his original ticket was still valid. Both tickets ended up winning.

The seemingly impossible happened: both of Paul Corcoran’s tickets matched the five white balls drawn on July 9, each earning a $1 million prize (before taxes).

Thanks to this mix-up, he doubled his luck, receiving a total of $2 million.

According to Powerball, both tickets won with the white ball numbers 5, 9, 25, 28, 69 and the red ball number 5.

Corcoran claimed his prize at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester on July 11.

Not only the player but also the retailers benefited. The first ticket was bought at a supermarket in Fitchburg, while the second was purchased at a gas station in Leominster. Both locations received $10,000 bonuses from Powerball for selling the winning tickets.

Powerball statistics show that the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9, while the odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Though undecided about what to do with his winnings, Corcoran simply shared, “Winning two prizes feels amazing.”

After realizing he had won the jackpot and understanding how lottery tickets work, a Korean man then convinced his coworker to buy the next ticket together for a shared win.

Powerball

Powerball is a popular American lottery game known for its massive jackpots, often reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. It was first introduced in 1992 and is played across 45 U.S. states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and has become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring dreams of instant wealth.

Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters

The Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters, located in Braintree, Massachusetts, oversees the state’s lottery operations, which were established in 1971 to generate revenue for local aid. The lottery has since become one of the most successful in the U.S., funding essential services like education and infrastructure. The headquarters manages game offerings, prize distributions, and regulatory compliance.

Fitchburg

Fitchburg is a historic city in north-central Massachusetts, founded in 1764 and incorporated as a city in 1872. Known for its industrial past, it played a significant role in the 19th-century manufacturing boom, particularly in paper production and machinery. Today, Fitchburg preserves its heritage through landmarks like the Fitchburg Art Museum and the Upper Common, while also serving as a cultural and educational hub in the region.

Leominster

Leominster is a historic market town in Herefordshire, England, known for its medieval heritage and impressive architecture. It was once home to Leominster Priory, a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, and played a significant role in the wool trade during the Middle Ages. Today, the town retains its charming character with timber-framed buildings, a bustling high street, and cultural landmarks like the Priory Church.

Dorchester

Dorchester is a historic market town in Dorset, England, with roots dating back to Roman times when it was known as *Durnovaria*. It later became significant in the Saxon and medieval periods and is famed for its connections to author Thomas Hardy, who used it as inspiration for the fictional “Casterbridge.” Today, it features Roman ruins, a rich literary heritage, and a charming town center with Georgian architecture.