A classic car collector from Illinois was able to turn a $2 million profit from a scratch-off.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, stepped up to claim the prize on May 5, telling state lottery officials he purchased the $20 Mega Bucks ticket on a whim.
“It was a typical morning like any other – until it wasn’t,” he told the Illinois Lottery. “I was on my way to work and I stopped at a gas station to buy a cup of coffee. At the checkout, I decided to grab a scratch-off lottery ticket, too – a purple one lit up on the screen at the exact second I looked at it, so I said, ‘I’ll take that one.'”
The winner, who was in disbelief after he scratched off the ticket numbers, returned to the convenience store to scan the ticket “just to be sure.”
He still couldn’t believe his luck, even after the machine came to the same conclusion.
“As more and more zeroes started to appear, and then the final $2,000,000, I just couldn’t believe it. I kept staring at the ticket, thinking, there’s no way… this can’t be real,” he said. “I must’ve been standing there for a while because the clerk came over and asked if something was wrong, so I showed her the ticket – she put on her glasses, took one look, and screamed.”
Winner plans to use prize money to buy land, another vintage car
All the classic car collector could think about was racing home to tell his wife, who nearly fainted when she heard the news.
“But when I did, she looked at me like I was nuts! I kept saying, ‘I just won two million dollars!’ and at one point I thought she was going to faint,” he told state lottery officials.
The winner plans to use the prize money to add another “beauty” to his classic car collection and buy a few acres of land to store it there “for whenever he wants to take a joyride.”
The owners of Lenny’s Gas N Wash in Shorewood, a suburb about 45 miles southwest of Chicago, were also able to bask in the glory of the win, as they received $20,000 for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.
More: Texas Lottery Commission head resigns amid state investigations into controversial wins
Where can I buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visitjackpocket.com/tos for full terms.
Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Classic car collector wins $2 million from $20 scratch-off
