VA Man Wins $100K Mega Millions Prize

RINER, VA — A Virginia man figured good fortune had passed him by when he bought a ticket for the Feb. 24 Mega Millions drawing. After the drawing, he learned his partner didn’t win and thought, “Oh, I probably didn’t either.”

Gordon Saylors of Riners then was surprised to receive a message from the Virginia Lottery and learned he had won $100,000.

“I was just kind of in shock!” he told Lottery officials when he claimed his prize. “I never expected this!”

The winning numbers for that drawing were 12-39-43-49-55, and the Mega Ball number was 23. The winner used Easy Pick and allowed the computer to randomly select the numbers on his ticket.

Saylors matched four of the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball number. Normally, that would win $10,000. However, he had a 10X multiplier on the ticket, which increased his prize to $100,000.

Saylors, who works as a lab assistant, hopes to use his winnings to buy a house and/or some land.

To play Virginia Lottery games online, download the Lottery’s app, or go to valottery.com. Players must be at least 18 years of age and physically located in Virginia.

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights at 11 p.m. The odds of matching the first five numbers in Mega Millions are 1 in 12,629,232. The odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336.

All Virginia Lottery profits go to K-12 education in Virginia. Saylors lives in Montgomery County, which received more than $6.5 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education last fiscal year, according to a lottery news release.

For a complete list of Lottery funds distributed to Virginia school districts, visit the Virginia Lottery’s Giving Back page. For general information or to play games online, visit the Virginia Lottery’s website or download the Lottery’s app. Connect with the Lottery on Facebook, X, Instagram, or YouTube.

With all gaming, please play responsibly. If you think you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help may be just a phone call away: The Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, 888-532-3500. Call, text or chat 24/7.