Lightning Strikes Twice: Woman Claims Second $100,000 Prize

A Virginia woman has defied astronomical odds by winning a six-figure lottery prize for the second time in her life. Sharon Godsey of Concord recently claimed a $100,000 Powerball prize, almost exactly 12 years after winning the same amount from a scratch-off ticket, proving that for some lucky individuals, lightning can indeed strike twice.

“I just hit the floor! My knees collapsed,” Godsey told Virginia Lottery officials when describing her reaction to discovering her win from the March 31 drawing. Her remarkable repeat fortune came from a ticket purchased at Carson Market on Village Highway in Concord, according to UPI.

While most lottery players spend a lifetime hoping for just one significant win, Godsey has now experienced the life-changing moment twice—a statistical anomaly that lottery experts describe as extraordinarily rare, with odds potentially exceeding one in several billion.

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The Strategic Player: How She Doubled Her Victory

Godsey’s recent win wasn’t just about luck—strategy played a crucial role in maximizing her prize. Her ticket matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball in the March 31 drawing, a combination typically worth $50,000. However, Godsey had opted to pay an extra dollar for the Power Play option, which doubled her prize to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier was drawn.

The winning numbers for the fateful drawing were 12, 41, 44, 52, 64, with Powerball number 25. Godsey’s ticket, containing a mix of what she describes as her “favorite numbers,” matched enough to secure the substantial second-tier prize.

This strategic approach to lottery play—selecting meaningful numbers and adding the Power Play option—highlights how knowledgeable players can improve their potential returns, even in games largely based on chance. While the odds remain long, small decisions can make significant differences in potential payouts.

The First Fortune: Where It All Began

Godsey’s remarkable lottery journey began in 2013 when she purchased a Sapphire Riches scratch-off ticket that revealed a $100,000 prize. That initial win, coming from an instant game rather than a draw game like Powerball, set her on a path that would eventually lead to this extraordinary second stroke of luck.

While many lottery winners retire from playing after a significant win, Godsey continued purchasing tickets over the years, maintaining her hope that fortune might smile on her again. This persistence, spanning more than a decade, ultimately paid off with her latest windfall.

Lottery officials note that while repeat winners do occur occasionally, dual six-figure prizes separated by years are exceptionally uncommon. Most regular players never experience even a single major win, making Godsey’s double fortune all the more remarkable.

Beyond Personal Gain: The Community Impact

While Godsey’s individual wins represent life-changing moments for her family, the broader impact of lottery play extends throughout her community. Godsey’s hometown of Concord is located in Campbell County, which received more than $8 million in K-12 education funding from the Virginia Lottery during the last fiscal year, as reported by Shore News Network.

In total, the Virginia Lottery generated more than $934 million for public education in Fiscal Year 2024, supporting essential programs and infrastructure improvements across the state’s school systems. This educational funding represents the primary public benefit of lottery operations, with proceeds directly supporting classroom resources, teacher training, and facility improvements.

Each ticket purchased, including Godsey’s winning Powerball entry, contributes to this educational mission, creating a positive community impact regardless of whether any individual player wins or loses.

The Mathematical Marvel: Understanding the Odds

The statistical improbability of Godsey’s achievement cannot be overstated. The odds of winning a $50,000 Powerball prize by matching four numbers plus the Powerball stand at approximately 1 in 913,000. Winning this prize twice compounds these already long odds exponentially.

When factoring in her previous scratch-off win, which carried its own separate probability, mathematics experts calculate the combined odds as almost inconceivably remote—likely exceeding one in several billion. To put this in perspective, a person is significantly more likely to be struck by lightning multiple times or become a professional athlete than to experience Godsey’s double lottery fortune.

Yet improbable events do occur, and Godsey’s story serves as a reminder that while the odds may be astronomical, someone eventually beats them—and in rare cases like hers, beats them twice.

Looking Forward: What Comes Next

While Godsey has not publicly shared specific plans for her latest windfall, financial advisors typically recommend that repeat lottery winners exercise particular caution with subsequent prizes. The psychological phenomenon known as “house money effect” can lead individuals to take greater risks with winnings than they would with their regular income, potentially leading to poor financial decisions.

For now, Godsey joins the extraordinarily exclusive club of multiple major prize winners—a distinction that sets her apart from virtually all other lottery players. As she processes her remarkable good fortune, one question inevitably arises: could there possibly be a third win in her future?

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