Lucky woman takes home seven-figure prize after purchasing ‘wrong’ lottery ticket

A Virginia woman won an eye-popping sum after accidentally purchasing the wrong lottery ticket at a gas station.

Carrollton resident Kelly Lindsay bought the winning ticket at a Race Way station in her town in January.

She was initially unhappy about “being given the wrong ticket,” she told officials, having wanted to play a different lottery game.

But that Money Blitz ticket ended up containing the correct numbers for the game’s second-place prize of $2 million.

Lindsay scratched the ticket in the parking lot and soon learned of her good fortune.

“And I got over not being happy about it!” she joked.

Though she won the $2 million prize, she opted to take home a smaller amount all at once.

“Ms. Lindsay had the choice of taking the full $2 million prize in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $1,250,000 before taxes,” the Virginia Lottery explained. She chose the cash option.”

According to the Virginia Lottery, one more top prize is still unclaimed. 

Kelly Lindsay won a large sum of money after accidentally purchasing the wrong lottery ticket at a gas station. Virginia Lottery

The chances of winning the top prize are less than one in a million.

“The chances of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,142,400,” the lottery noted. “The chances of winning any prize in this game are 1 in 3.29.”

The Virginia Lottery added that all profits go to supporting K-12 education in Old Dominion. 

Lindsay was initially unhappy about “being given the wrong ticket,” she told officials, having wanted to play a different lottery game. Virginia Lottery
“Ms. Lindsay had the choice of taking the full $2 million prize in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $1,250,000 before taxes,” the Virginia Lottery explained. She chose the cash option.”
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“Ms. Lindsay lives in Isle of Wight County, which received more than $3.7 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education last fiscal year,” the statement added. “In Fiscal Year 2024, the Lottery raised more than $934 million for K-12 education, making up approximately 10 percent of Virginia’s total K-12 school budget.”

Lindsay’s lottery win is one of many that have occurred by accident.

Last fall, an Illinois lottery player won $9.2 million after playing the wrong game.