Virginia man wakes up thinking he won a few bucks then sees $215k jackpot — money

Lynchburg player says late night urge led to massive Cash 5 win

LYNCHBURG, Va. — A Virginia man who bought a lottery ticket online after feeling an urge to play woke up expecting a small prize — only to discover he had just won a $215K jackpot.

Kevin Jones purchased a Cash 5 with EZ Match ticket online for the May 5 drawing using Easy Pick numbers randomly generated by the Virginia Lottery.

The next morning, Jones received an email from the Virginia Lottery notifying him he had won a prize.

Thinking it might only be a small payout, he checked the results and realized he had matched all five winning numbers to claim the jackpot worth $215,000.

Lottery officials said the winning numbers for the May 5 drawing were 30, 31, 37, 39, and 42.

Jones later described the moment as unbelievable while claiming his prize.

Cash 5 with EZ Match features a rolling jackpot beginning at a minimum of $200K. The odds of matching all five numbers to win the jackpot are 1 in 1,221,759.

Virginia Lottery players can purchase Cash 5 with EZ Match, Powerball, Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 tickets online while physically located within the state.

Virginia Lottery profits support K-12 education statewide. Lynchburg City received more than $9.4 million in lottery funding for schools during the last fiscal year.

The Virginia Lottery reported raising more than $901 million for K-12 education during Fiscal Year 2025.

Help for gambling addiction is available through the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline at 888-532-3500.

Key Points

A Lynchburg man won a $215,000 Cash 5 jackpot online
Kevin Jones thought he had only won a small prize at first
The winning ticket matched all five numbers from the May 5 drawing

Chris Quigley Latest posts

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

As a member of the Shore News Network editorial team, Quigley works closely with public officials, community leaders, first responders, and local organizations to provide factual coverage of breaking news, municipal government, public policy, and events affecting New Jersey residents. Her work highlights both major developments and the local stories that shape communities across the state.

Quigley is committed to responsible journalism, emphasizing accuracy, source verification, and transparency in every story she reports. She strives to present information in a clear and accessible manner, helping readers better understand the issues, decisions, and events that impact their daily lives.

Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News