A lucky nurse from Virginia kept her lottery ticket in a Bible – and won a million dollars
The New Year’s Millionaire Raffle, organized by the Virginia Lottery, annually distributes multimillion-dollar prizes, making some lucky participants wealthy overnight. This time, five people became millionaires, each winning a $1 million prize.
However, the real sensation of the event was the story of Jacqueline Mangus, a resident of Bedford County. Her story is not just about winning a large sum but also about the unexpected and symbolic way luck can enter a person’s life.
A ticket kept in a Bible brings a million-dollar prize
Christmas is a time of traditions, and for Jacqueline, one of them was participating in the New Year’s lottery. On December 24, 2024, she visited Lake Mart & Deli at 4795 Scruggs Road, Moneta, where she purchased ticket #081604.
As she had done in previous years, she tucked it away in her Bible, believing it to be the safest place.
Days later, while getting ready for work, she heard a news report saying that one of the winning $1 million tickets had been purchased in Moneta. Her heart started pounding. Opening her Bible, she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety – could luck have smiled on her?
Pulling out the ticket and checking the number, she froze for a moment: she had really won $1 million.
“I was tickled to death!” she told Virginia Lottery officials.
Money didn’t change her routine
Most people who win a significant amount immediately start making plans – quitting their jobs, going on lavish vacations, or making major life changes. But Jacqueline saw things differently.
Despite becoming a millionaire overnight, she went about her day as usual, heading to work at the hospital where she cared for patients.
“Did I have a plan? Of course! My plan was to go to work!” she told reporters with a smile.
Her response is a testament to the fact that winning big doesn’t always change a person’s values or habits – for some, their work is not just a job but a true calling.
She wasn’t the only millionaire
The New Year’s Millionaire Raffle made four other people millionaires besides Jacqueline. Their winning tickets were sold in:
- Ashburn
- Henrico
- Herndon
- Fishersville
Additionally, seven more players won $100,000 prizes. Their winning tickets were purchased in Amelia, Charlottesville, Midlothian, Marshall, Tazewell, Yorktown, and Woodstock.
Beyond that, 1,000 players also won $500 each, providing a pleasant surprise to many who started the new year with a lucky boost.
When luck comes unexpectedly
Jacqueline Mangus’s story is a perfect example of how luck can appear in the most unexpected ways. A simple habit of storing her ticket in a Bible turned into a million-dollar decision.
Many lottery players plan ahead, dreaming of what they would do if they won. But for Jacqueline, things unfolded differently – she had no grand plans, no thoughts of major changes, just a regular day that took an extraordinary turn.
One moment, one number, one news announcement – and her life changed forever. Perhaps not outwardly, but certainly in a profound way. Because now she knows: miracles do happen – even when you’re just getting ready for work.
Source: Virginia Lottery
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