Local News

A Mass. man mistakenly bought an identical ticket for the same Powerball drawing. They each won $1 million.

Both tickets matched all five white balls.

Paul Corcoran picking up his winnings at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. Powerball

July 21, 2025

1 minute to read

A Massachusetts man won $2 million — instead of $1 million — after accidentally purchasing an identical Powerball ticket for the same drawing earlier this month.

Paul Corcoran, of Fitchburg, purchased the second lottery ticket for the July 9 drawing, thinking all the drawings for his first ticket had already passed, according to a Powerball release.

“Corcoran initially bought a ticket for seven Powerball drawings and mistakenly thought the final drawing on that ticket had already occurred, leading him to purchase another multi-draw ticket that also included the July 9 drawing,” the release says.

Corcoran bought the first ticket at the Fitchburg Market Basket and the second at County Farms on Main Street in Leominster, according to CBS News Boston. Both tickets matched all five white balls, for $1 million each before taxes.

Corcoran picked up his winnings at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester on July 11. He didn’t have a plan yet for his winnings, according to the release.