Massachusetts Man Accidentally Wins Two $1 Million Powerball Prizes in One Night

The Accidental Double Play

Paul Corcoran never imagined that a small oversight would lead to a million-dollar miracle — not once, but twice. It all began when the longtime Massachusetts resident bought a multi-draw Powerball ticket covering seven consecutive drawings. But as fate would have it, Corcoran believed the ticket had expired before the July 9 drawing — and so, he bought another.

That second ticket — purchased entirely by mistake — also included the July 9 draw.

When the numbers rolled out that Wednesday — white balls 5, 9, 25, 28, 69 and red Powerball 5 — both of Corcoran’s tickets matched all five white balls. While he missed the Powerball itself, the matching five was enough to net a $1 million prize per ticket. And because he had two? That’s a $2 million payout, pre-tax.

Claiming His Prizes

On Friday, July 11, Corcoran arrived at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester and walked away with two oversized checks and, no doubt, an even bigger smile. When asked about his plans, the newly minted millionaire simply said he didn’t have any yet. “It just feels good,” he added, according to the Massachusetts Lottery.

Bought a ticket for seven Powerball drawings and thought the final drawing on that ticket had already occurred so he purchased another multi-draw ticket that also included the July 9 drawing 💰 Hitting for $1 MILLION X2!

Winning tickets were purchased at Market Basket, 130 Water… pic.twitter.com/6qdcQKAfCo

— Mass. State Lottery (@MAStateLottery) July 16, 2025

A Millionaire’s Night

Corcoran wasn’t alone in his good fortune. Last Wednesday’s Powerball drawing was one for the books, producing a total of eight $1 million Match 5 winners from across the country — including two in California, two in Illinois, and others in Florida, Nebraska, and of course, Massachusetts. One additional ticket in Texas hit the Match 5 + Power Play, doubling the prize to $2 million.

Powerball officials noted that California operates under a pari-mutuel payout system, meaning prize amounts may vary based on ticket sales and number of winners.

What’s Next?

The Powerball jackpot continues to climb, currently sitting at an estimated $264 million, with a cash option of $119.7 million, ahead of the next drawing on Wednesday night. Tickets are sold for $2 in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Since its inception in 1992, Powerball has contributed more than $36 billion to good causes across the United States. More than half of each ticket’s proceeds remain within the state where it was sold — just one of the ways this iconic game fuels public programs and dreams alike.

Where to Watch

Powerball drawings are held live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET, broadcast from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. You can also watch results at powerball.com.