'Lucky 3' Friends Split $3M Lottery Prize In VA

Three best friends are splitting their earnings after their to trip to a Virginia grocery store for a lottery scratcher won them a hefty $3 million.

"Lucky 3" in Sterling.
Photo Credit: *VA Lottery*

Valerie Musson

04/20/2023 4:40 p.m.

Walter Mendez of Springfield, Delores Vigil of Herndon, and Juan Carlos Fuentes of Herndon are pocketing $625,000 each, before taxes, after buying a winning ticket to the ‘50x the Money’ game at Giant Food at 21800 Towncenter Plaza in Sterling.

“We went to buy groceries,” Mr. Mendez told Lottery officials. “We always stop and play.”

As he scratched the ticket, he said to the others, “I think we’ve got something!”

The ‘50x the Money’ game gives players the chance to win prizes between $20 and $3 million. This trio marks the second top-tier prize, meaning two more are still unclaimed.

The chances of taking home the $3 million top prize are 1 in 1,836,000.

Congratulations to Sterling's 'Lucky 3!'

For more information on the Virginia Lottery, click here.

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