An Iowa man is attributing his $100,000 Powerball win to a blessing from his late father.
Thomas O’Hollearn, 56, collected his prize at the Iowa Lottery headquarters on Thursday, just three weeks after his father’s passing. He believes his father may have had a hand in his good fortune.
“I thought maybe it was a blessing from him. It was a blessing from my dad,” O’Hollearn shared with lottery officials.
O’Hollearn purchased the winning ticket at a Hy-Vee store in West Des Moines. His ticket matched four of the five white balls and the Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing. He was only one number away from winning the $417.9 million jackpot that night.
When O’Hollearn checked his ticket the next morning, he could hardly believe his luck.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was just thrilled,” he said. “I called my mom, my brother, and my son right away. We were all excited.”
Describing the win as “a dream come true,” O’Hollearn is still processing the incredible moment.
The Powerball jackpot for the next drawing, scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, has grown to $484 million.
