Overview
Two brothers from Virginia, Tim and Matt, have made headlines after sticking to a lifelong pact to split any major lottery winnings. After beating odds of 1 in 1.7 million to hit a $230,000 jackpot in the state’s Cash 5 game last month, Tim honored his promise to his brother and split the prize down the middle.
The brothers’ heartwarming story has captured national attention as a testament to the unbreakable bond between siblings.
Background on the Brothers
Tim, 55, and Matt, 53, have reportedly been best friends since childhood. Though they live about an hour apart today, the brothers have remained incredibly close over the years.
As kids, Tim and Matt made a pact that if one of them ever won big on the lottery, they would split the earnings with the other. Though it was just a harmless pact between children at the time, the brothers upheld the promise well into adulthood.
“We’ve talked for years about winning the lottery and what we’d do if we won,” Tim told reporters. “We always agreed that if one of us hit it big, we’d split it.”
The Fateful Lottery Ticket Purchase
On December 20th, 2023, Tim stopped by a local convenience store and decided to try his luck on the Cash 5 game. He purchased a Quick Pick ticket, allowing the computer to randomly select the numbers.
The next day, Tim discovered he had chosen the winning numbers: 1-2-10-35-36. His odds of doing so were extremely slim at just 1 in 1,749,398. But thanks to fate and a bit of holiday magic, Tim had just won the $230,000 jackpot.
“When I realized I had the winning ticket, I was in total disbelief,” said Tim. “I must have checked the numbers 25 times.”
| Cash 5 Winning #s | 12/21/2023 |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 10 | 35 |
| 36 |
Making Good on the Promise
Of course, Tim’s next call was to his brother Matt to deliver the incredible news. The brothers had discussed their pact so many times over the years that Tim didn’t hesitate to offer Matt half the prize money.
“We’ve talked so much over the years about going 50-50 if we ever won, so it was just automatic,” said Tim.
Matt was equally committed to honoring the promise, despite the life-changing sum of money now on the table.
“We shook on it as kids, and a handshake means something,” Matt explained.
Earlier this week, Tim and Matt traveled to the Virginia Lottery headquarters to officially claim the $230,000 prize. With smiles on their faces, each brother posed for photos holding his $115,000 check.
Tim and Matt smiling as they hold oversized checks for $115K each at Virginia Lottery HQ. Source: USA Today
What’s Next for the Brothers?
Now that they’ve claimed their winnings, Tim and Matt are focused on putting the money to good use.
Tim hopes to pay off some lingering bills and renovate parts of his home. Matt would like take his family on a nice vacation out west to create some special memories.
But before all of that, the brothers just want to celebrate their amazing luck over some beers together.
“We’ll definitely going out for some beers soon to celebrate,” said Tim. “We always talked about taking a trip together too if we won. Now we actually can.”
Beyond material purchases, though, the brothers say this experience has enriched their bond in an entirely different way.
“It feels really good to see something we talked about as kids come to reality,” said Matt. “This whole thing has brought us even closer together.”
Why the Story Has Captivated the Public
In a time full of sad news and division, Tim and Matt’s uplifting story has captured national attention.
Major media outlets praised the brothers for sticking to their childhood pact rather than fighting over the money or turning on each other. Their commitment to split the prize “represents the best of human nature,” wrote the Charlotte Observer.
Others say the story has reminded us of the power of promises, no matter how small or silly they may seem. Though the boys only made a verbal pact as naive kids, they showed maturity and strength of character by honoring it decades later.
“In a world where it’s increasingly rare to see people stay true to their word, this story shines bright,” said one Yahoo! News commenter. “It’s just so heartwarming.”
Many have pointed out that not all siblings would evenly divide a major lottery prize. Plenty of families have been torn apart by lesser sums of money. But Tim and Matt proved that unconditional love between brothers has no price.
The Takeaway: Cherish Your Loved Ones
While Tim and Matt’s lottery win is extraordinarily lucky, their lifetime bond gives the story its magic. In the end, the case highlights the importance of cherishing relationships with siblings and loved ones.
When asked for advice, Tim said: “No matter what happens, good or bad, always be there for your family.”
Matt agreed. “Don’t take your siblings for granted,” he said. “You never know when you might need them.”
After a feel-good story full of hope, togetherness, and serendipity, it seems the Virginia brothers have found the real jackpot after all.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
