Lottery Cashier Makes Mistake, Wins $7 Million

WOODBRIDGE, VA — In the midst of the Powerball insanity last month, Michael Donnelly of Woodbridge made a mistake that made him a millionaire.

A customer service manager at the Harris Teeter at 6352 Columbia Pike in Falls Church, Donnelly was printing tickets for customers Jan. 7 during the record Powerball run that led to a $1.6 billion jackpot.

During one purchase, Donnelly accidentally printed a Cash4Life ticket for a customer who had asked for Powerball numbers. Donnelly decided to purchase the mistaken ticket himself and that decision paid off.

His ticket matched all six numbers in the Jan. 7 Cash4Life drawing. On Friday, Donnelly took the one-time cash option of $7 million before taxes.

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It wasn’t until days after the drawing that a customer mentioned someone had won at the store. Donnelly checked his numbers and found out he won — immediately calling his wife.

“If that’s true, you have to come home because I’m about to have a heart attack!” Michele Donnelly told her husband.

Cash4Life drawings are held held Monday and Thursday at 9 p.m. Each play costs $2. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 21.8 million.