Million Dollar Grand Prize Finalists Decide to Split Winnings

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Lottery’s $1 Million Dollar Monopoly Millionaire Second Chance Grand Prize drawing event ended with a twist on Thursday when Josh Schoolcraft announced to the media in attendance that he wanted to share his $1 million dollar prize with the other two finalists.

The West Virginia Lottery’s $1 Million Dollar Monopoly Millionaire Second Chance Grand Prize drawing event ended with a twist on Thursday when Josh Schoolcraft announced to the media in attendance that he wanted to share his $1 million dollar prize with the other two finalists.

“I just want to announce that I am going to share the money with the others,” Schoolcraft said.

Schoolcraft, 21 of Given, W.Va., made the first selection and was followed in order by Douglas Schafer of Wheeling and Todd Kingrey of Charleston. When all three unveiled their hidden checks – Schoolcraft held the $1,000,000 prize, Kingrey the $100,000 prize and Schafer the $10,000 prize. However, all three men decided to share all three prizes.

“We thought this would be a good way to make sure not one of us leaves unhappy and talked about it just beforehand. I think this was a really great thing to do in true West Virginia spirit and I think it is great,” Schafer said.

The three finalists ended up with an estimated $253,450 each (after taxes) from the three-way split.

The West Virginia Lottery held the special drawing on the Lottery’s 28th anniversary. Lottery Director John Musgrave said that the lottery has produced more than $7.4 billion in proceeds to the State of West Virginia that have been directed to such things as education, senior services, and tourism.

Because of the finalists’ decision to split the $1 million prize, the West Virginia Lottery has now had 62 persons win or share prizes of $1 million or more in its history.