Virginia Man Turns $5 Leftover Into a $100,000 Lottery Win

A Virginia man’s quick stop at a lottery machine turned into an unforgettable surprise after a small leftover amount from his shopping trip led to a huge payday.

William Jackson of Stuarts Draft had already enjoyed a lucky moment when he won $100 from a lottery ticket purchased at a local grocery store. After using most of the money to buy groceries, he found himself with just $5 remaining.

Instead of pocketing the extra cash, Jackson decided to take one more chance and bought a Cash Wheel scratch-off ticket from the store’s lottery vending machine.

That decision paid off in a big way.

As he scratched the ticket before leaving the store, he revealed the game's top prize of $100,000. The unexpected win left him stunned.

“This can’t be right,” Jackson remembered thinking when he saw the result.

The excitement didn’t end there. Jackson said the discovery made for a sleepless night as he waited to officially claim his winnings the next day.

A few highlights from his lucky streak:

• Won $100 on a previous lottery ticket
• Used part of the winnings for groceries
• Spent the last $5 on a scratch-off ticket
• Landed a massive $100,000 top prize

The timing of the win made it even more meaningful. Jackson said the money feels like an early anniversary gift for him and his wife, who will celebrate 50 years of marriage later in August.

What started as a routine grocery trip ended with a life-changing surprise and a memorable milestone celebration on the horizon.