Lottery player uses numbers randomly picked by computer and wins big in Virginia

A man went from a longtime Virginia resident to one of the state’s jackpot winners, lottery officials said.

Norman Sullivan, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, lived in Virginia for 58 years, so he “knows a thing or two” about the state, according to a July 2 news release by the Virginia Lottery.

What he didn’t know was that he’d soon be the winner of $215,000, lottery officials said.

Sullivan bought a Cash 5 with EZ Match ticket in Cross Junction and had a generator randomly select the numbers he’d play, lottery officials said.

Sullivan matched all five numbers — 4, 21, 23, 30 and 36, the release said.

Although Sullivan didn’t specify what he’ll do with the winnings, he managed to beat the 1-in-1,221,759 odds of matching all five numbers to win the grand jackpot, officials said.

Cross Junction is about a 160-mile drive northwest of Richmond.

This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Lottery player uses numbers randomly picked by computer and wins big in Virginia."