Rural Retreat man wins $150,000 in Powerball drawing after spending extra dollar on Power Play
Wytheville, Virginia – For Dennis O’Donnell of Rural Retreat, what started as an ordinary visit to a local Walmart turned into a life-changing moment. O’Donnell, a regular lottery player, recently hit big in the April 14 Powerball drawing, winning a $150,000 prize thanks to a smart choice and a bit of luck.
“I kind of didn’t believe it at first! I checked it two or three times!” O’Donnell told Virginia Lottery officials, describing his disbelief when he realized his ticket was a big winner.
He had bought the ticket at the Walmart in Wytheville, choosing his own numbers. His ticket matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball, which normally awards a $50,000 prize. But O’Donnell had spent an extra dollar for Power Play, which increased his prize to $150,000, as the Power Play number for that drawing tripled all eligible winnings.
The winning numbers that night were 3-20-30-52-62, with the Powerball number 1.
When asked about his plans, O’Donnell said the first thing on his mind was helping those closest to him. “It feels great to win!” he added as he turned in his ticket.
Like all Virginia Lottery proceeds, the money generated from ticket sales contributes to public education. In fact, Wythe County, where O’Donnell resides, received more than $3.9 million in Lottery funding for K-12 education last fiscal year. Across Virginia, the Lottery raised over $934 million in Fiscal Year 2024, which accounted for about 10 percent of the state’s K-12 school budget.
While O’Donnell celebrates his personal good fortune, his win also reflects how lottery participation continues to benefit students and schools across the Commonwealth.
