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Chesapeake man wins top prize in Virginia Lottery ‘Bank a Million’ game

Posted at 12:56 PM, Aug 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-09 12:56:45-04

Joseph Brightwell. (Virginia Lottery)

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – “I’ve been called many things, but I’ve never been called a millionaire. Now I can be called a millionaire!”

That was Joseph Brightwell’s reaction when he redeemed his “Bank a Million” ticket for the top prize of $1 million after taxes.

The Chesapeake man matched all six numbers in the July 21 drawing using Easy Pick, a random number generator.

He bought his winning ticket at the 7-Eleven at 242 Battlefield Boulevard South in Chesapeake. The store received a $10,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling the winning ticket.

Mr. Brightwell, who is retired from the Navy, said he has no immediate plans for his winnings except to take care of his family.

The top prizes in Bank a Million ($1 million, $500,000 and $250,000) are calculated so that winners receive the prize amount after federal and state tax-withholdings.