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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | 2 W.Va. veterans pull off incredible Powerball win worth $14M Powerball: 2 W.Va. veterans pull off incredible Powerball win worth $14M51 Rating:$14 million from multiple tickets with same numbers Two Vietnam War Veterans from Weston, West Virginia, are millionaires after claiming an unusual Powerball prize involving multiple lottery tickets purchased with the same numbers. West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave introduced the state's newest millionaires at a press conference at Lottery Headquarters Monday, according to a news release from the Lottery. Michael Shaver and Ronald Simmons share the $14 million in winnings from matching five numbers, seven times with the PowerPlay option from Feb. 29's Powerball drawing, officials said. Shaver and Simmons played the same numbers seven times and match all five white balls, only missing the Powerball number each time. Officials said the $1 million prize on each occurrence was automatically doubled to $2 million because they chose the PowerPlay option, giving them a total prize of $14 million. The winning tickets were bought at the Prime 7-Eleven #5706 on 3rd Street in Weston and they pair played the specific numbers based on birth dates of loved ones, according to the news release. The winning numbers were 01-04-11-23-26 with a Powerball of 14. Officials said the store where the ticket was purchased will receive a $100,000 selling bonus. Shaver and Simmons's ticket was the only one in the country that matched five numbers and used the PowerPlay option for Wednesday's Drawing, according to the news release. Officials said four other players matched five numbers in the drawing. Each of players won $1 million. Those winning tickets were purchased in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and Texas. Shaver and Simmons, who are lifelong friends, said they will be responsible with their winnings and use some of it to help their fellow veterans. "We are going to help our family, our kids and grandkids and help some veterans," Shaver said. "Veterans benefits are something we are both very passionate about and we plan to advocate for protecting veterans benefits. We both want to thank the VA hospitals in Pittsburgh and Clarksburg and the Veterans Center in Morgantown and all the people associated with them, because we would not be here without them and have this. We will use some of this to help our fellow vets." The two winners are the 31st and 32nd persons in the W.Va. Lottery's 26-year history to win $1 million or more in prizes, officials said. More than $2.2 billion has been awarded in prizes from traditional lottery games since the W.Va. Lottery was created in 1986, according to the news release.  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
NVNS, Lottery Post Staff We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 40 comments. Last comment 1 year ago by . Ohio United States Member #120769 December 27, 2011 194 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 1:33 pm - IP Logged | |
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United States Member #107794 March 13, 2011 184 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 2:00 pm - IP Logged | |
7 tickets with the same numbers? Okay, don't understand why but who cares, they made it! Thank you gentlemen, may you finally get the respect that is deprived to our heros in uniform. We might object to the cause but we still thank you for carrying out the task to protect our families, our freedom, liberty and country!  | | |
Oklahoma United States Member #82920 November 12, 2009 3624 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 2:01 pm - IP Logged | |
love it..love it...love it... congrats to the winners.... | | |
Mcminnville, Oregon United States Member #3070 December 13, 2003 1912 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 2:12 pm - IP Logged | |
Congrats on your win. Way to go Vets! That is awesome Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-weshar75 | | |
United States Member #122703 February 6, 2012 202 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 3:07 pm - IP Logged | |
When I saw that drawing the other night I said to myself that someone took one hell of a gamble and it paid off really well. Congratulations guys. | | |
Miami, Florida United States Member #111819 June 2, 2011 316 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 3:33 pm - IP Logged | |
7 tickets with the same numbers? Okay, don't understand why but who cares, they made it! Thank you gentlemen, may you finally get the respect that is deprived to our heros in uniform. We might object to the cause but we still thank you for carrying out the task to protect our families, our freedom, liberty and country! Sandia, I often do the same thing--- and here's why: If I feel strongly about my numbers, yet I don't really think I'm going to hit the big jackpot, I'll play multiple tickets with the same numbers in order to maximize the payouts in the lower-paying tiers.. For instance, If I am certain that 15 will be the Powerball, I'll play that powerball on several plays so that I will win multiple times, etc..... In the case of these two veterans---they just happened to maximize their winnings on the higher-tiered prize levels. | | |
adelaide sa Australia Member #37542 April 11, 2006 2502 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 4:02 pm - IP Logged | |
7 tickets with the same numbers? Okay, don't understand why but who cares, they made it! Thank you gentlemen, may you finally get the respect that is deprived to our heros in uniform. We might object to the cause but we still thank you for carrying out the task to protect our families, our freedom, liberty and country! havent you read the latest news? buying multiple tickets doesnt increase your odds, so may as well buy 7 with same number., </sarcasm> June "Money doesnt buy happiness, but misery has never been so luxurious" 2013 YTD loss[1032] wins = 585 2012 total spend =[2486.10], wins = 2176.70 ; year total = -$309.40 | | |
Orlando, FL United States Member #115805 August 28, 2011 259 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 4:21 pm - IP Logged | |
Exactly what I thought, buying the # with different PBs | | |
NY State United States Member #92637 June 10, 2010 1412 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 4:21 pm - IP Logged | |
7 tickets with the same numbers? Okay, don't understand why but who cares, they made it! Thank you gentlemen, may you finally get the respect that is deprived to our heros in uniform. We might object to the cause but we still thank you for carrying out the task to protect our families, our freedom, liberty and country! I can help you understand why. The 2nd prize of $1,000,000 for matching the 5 white ball numbers is not pari-mutuel. That simply means if two people match the 5 white balls drawn, each person will win one million dollars. (They dont split the 1 million equally.) What these men did was play the same set of numbers 7 times. Had they not bought The Power Play, they would have won a total of 7 million dollars. But since they spent an extra dollar to purchase The Power Play, the total winnings became 14 million. When I play PB, I usually buy The Power Play. Each line on the ticket costs $2.00. But since I buy The Power Play, each line on the ticket costs $3.00. So if the winners bought those 7 lines on one ticket with The Power Play played, the total cost of the ticket was $21.00. Winning a Jackpot - unlikely but POSSIBLE! | | |
Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13301 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 4:30 pm - IP Logged | |
Congrats to the Lucky winners, and Thank you. | | |
United States Member #93192 June 23, 2010 675 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 5:08 pm - IP Logged | |
Wow. I didn't see this happening. Congratulations to them. | | |
Gurnee, Illinois United States Member #50189 February 12, 2007 711 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 5:39 pm - IP Logged | |
Congrats to fellow vets. When I hit the jackpot, I plan to do this except I would play $300 each time. Can you imagine Powerball paying out $200M on a second tier hit AND the annuitized/cash value jackpot amount? I am sure the director would have some choice words for such a winner behind closed doors! Would probably see the minimum jackpot amount for a few rollovers! Get MONEY!!! Winning a JACKPOT lottery is all the HOPE and CHANGE I desire!!! NOW give me MONEY! | | |
S.E.Iowa United States Member #120520 December 21, 2011 534 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 6:10 pm - IP Logged | |
Couldn't happen to anyone better than these two veterans.Way to go,guys! When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers | | |
Nothing Good Happens After Midnight Licking County, OH United States Member #120858 December 28, 2011 302 Posts Offline | | Posted: March 6, 2012, 6:12 pm - IP Logged | |
Congrats to the winners!! And Thank You for your service! 
Life's Too Short To Be Unhappy  | | |
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