The $2 Million 'Lucky Mistake': How A Fitchburg Man Accidentally Won Double The Powerball Prize

The dream of winning the lottery often hinges on a single, perfect ticket, but for one Massachusetts resident, the secret to a $2 million windfall was a simple, yet monumental, mistake. As of December 2025, the story of Paul Corcoran of Fitchburg stands out as one of the most incredible recent wins from the Massachusetts State Lottery, proving that sometimes, double the trouble can mean double the cash.

The tale of Corcoran’s "lucky mistake" has captured attention across the state and beyond, highlighting the unpredictable nature of lottery games like Powerball. This deep-dive explores the details of his massive win, the financial realities of a multi-million dollar prize in Massachusetts, and a look at other recent big winners who have made headlines.

Paul Corcoran: A Biography of the Accidental Multi-Millionaire

While the Massachusetts State Lottery often keeps personal details of winners private, certain key facts about Paul Corcoran and his life-changing win have been released, cementing his place in lottery lore.

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• Name: Paul Corcoran
• Hometown/Residence: Fitchburg, Massachusetts (a city in north-central MA)
• Winning Game: Powerball (Multi-State Drawing)
• Prize Amount: $2,000,000 (Two separate $1,000,000 prizes)
• Drawing Date: The winning numbers were drawn on July 9
• The Story: Corcoran had been playing the same set of random numbers for a long time. On the day of the drawing, he accidentally purchased two separate tickets with the exact same numbers for the same drawing, a mistake that doubled his prize when those numbers hit.
• Claim Location: The prize was claimed at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters.

Corcoran's error turned a potential $1 million prize into a stunning $2 million payday before taxes. The odds of matching the first five Powerball numbers for a $1 million prize are approximately 1 in 11.6 million, making the odds of accidentally winning $2 million with two identical tickets truly astronomical.

The Double-Take: How One Mistake Led to Two $1 Million Jackpots

The story of Paul Corcoran is a perfect example of how a routine transaction can turn into an extraordinary event. Corcoran, a regular Powerball player, had his usual set of numbers. When he went to purchase his ticket for the July 9 drawing, a mix-up at the counter or a momentary lapse of attention led him to purchase the same combination of numbers twice.

The standard Powerball prize structure awards $1 million to a ticket that matches the first five white balls, missing only the Powerball number itself. Corcoran’s chosen numbers successfully matched those five white balls. Because he held two identical tickets, each one qualified for the $1 million prize, resulting in a combined $2 million win.

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This type of double-win is highly unusual and immediately became a feel-good news story for the Massachusetts State Lottery. Corcoran's experience serves as a powerful reminder for players to always check their tickets—and perhaps, to double-check their purchases!

Understanding the Real Payout: Taxes and Financial Implications

While $2 million is the advertised gross prize, the actual amount a winner takes home is significantly less after mandatory withholdings and taxes. In Massachusetts, lottery winnings are subject to both federal and state taxes, making the net payout a critical topic for any big winner.

The Tax Breakdown on a $2 Million Lottery Prize

In the case of a $2 million prize from the Massachusetts State Lottery, the winner, Paul Corcoran, would have faced the following financial realities:

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• Federal Tax Withholding: The IRS requires a mandatory 24% federal withholding on lottery prizes over $5,000. For $2,000,000, this initial withholding amounts to $480,000.
• Massachusetts State Tax: Massachusetts taxes lottery winnings at a flat rate of 5% for Part B income. This state tax deduction amounts to $100,000.
• Initial Withheld Amount: The total amount withheld by the lottery before the prize is issued is $580,000 ($480,000 Federal + $100,000 State).
• Initial Net Payout: The winner would receive a check for $1,420,000.

However, the total tax burden does not end there. Since a $2 million lump-sum payment pushes the winner into the highest federal income tax bracket (currently up to 37%), Corcoran would likely owe additional taxes when filing his federal return, potentially increasing the total tax paid to over $700,000.

Lump-Sum vs. Annuity

For a $2 million prize, the Powerball game typically offers the prize as a lump-sum cash payment only, as it is a second-tier prize, not the main jackpot. This simplifies the financial decision, but highlights the importance of immediate financial planning. Most experts recommend that big lottery winners, even those with "smaller" multi-million dollar prizes, immediately seek advice from a qualified financial advisor, tax attorney, and accountant to manage the sudden wealth and ensure tax compliance.

Other Notable $2 Million Winners in Massachusetts

Paul Corcoran is not the only Massachusetts Lottery winner to claim a $2 million prize recently. The state lottery offers multiple games with this top tier, including various instant scratch-off tickets. These other winners contribute to the state’s long history of big payouts, building topical authority around the lottery's impact:

• Vanesa Menjivar Acosta (Norcross, Georgia): Vanesa became the first $2 million grand prize winner in the "$25,000,000 Mega Money" instant ticket game. Her ticket was a gift from her father, purchased in East Boston. She chose the one-time cash option, which resulted in a net payout of approximately $1.3 million after taxes.
• Rodelbi Miranda Lopez: Rodelbi claimed the fifth and final $2 million grand prize in the "$2,000,000 50X Cashword" instant ticket game. He announced plans to use his winnings to buy a new home.
• Christopher Williams (Fall River): Williams won a $2 million Powerball prize after stopping to get slushies for his kids. He claimed his prize at the Dorchester headquarters.
• Albert Boumel: A recent winner of a $2 million prize on a scratch ticket, Boumel also made headlines with his plans for the cash, showcasing the diverse ways winners choose to spend their new fortunes.

These stories underscore the fact that the Massachusetts State Lottery continues to generate major winners through both draw games like Powerball and a wide variety of instant scratch-off ticket games.