Sterling Man Wins $3M Prize From Scratcher 3 Years After His Brother Won $1M

STERLING, VA — A man from Sterling is $3 million richer after he won a grand prize from a Virginia Lottery scratcher. Good luck must run in the family, as the man's brother previously won $1 million from the Virginia Lottery in 2019.

Danny Mudd bought his lucky 50X The Money ticket at the Sheetz on Windmill Parc Drive in Sterling. He had the option of $3 million over the course of 30 years or $1,875,000 in cash before taxes. Mudd took the cash.

"I couldn't believe it," Mudd said as he claimed his oversized check. "I was like, 'No, this can't be!'"

The odds of winning the top prize in the 50X The Money game are 1 in 1,836,000. The odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 3.

Mudd is still trying to accept his good fortune. "It hasn't sunk in yet," Mudd told lottery officials. "I'm just smiling!"

In Virginia, proceeds from the lottery support education efforts throughout the state. Last fiscal year, Loudoun County received $24,200,000 from the Virginia Lottery for education initiatives.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, the Virginia Council on Problem Gaming provides resources to help. Their hotline can be reached at 1-888-532-3500.