Illinois scratch-off ticket winner bags $2M fortune on a $20 investment
A guy from Illinois, self-proclaimed as the "Classic Car Collector," just bagged a $2m jackpot from the Mega Bucks game.
He got his hands on the life-changing sum from a mere $20 scratch-off ticket at a gas station. The lottery has christened him with this nickname, which perfectly represents his longtime hobby – collecting classic cars.
Turning Small Change into a Big Score
Though his identity was kept under wraps by the Illinois Lottery, the elated winner was still given a traditional celebratory ceremony.
Upon the discovery of his winnings, the Classic Car Collector couldn't believe his eyes, even after scanning the ticket at Lenny's Gas N Wash, 1201 W. Jefferson Street, Shorewood. His first reaction? Head home and break the news to his wife. He described the emotional moment, mentioning that his wife nearly fainted on hearing the life-changing news.
Now, $20,000 will be handed over to Lenny's Gas N Wash for selling the winning ticket. But will the Classic Car Collector add another classic car to his collection with his winnings? Only time will tell.
Unfortunately, not every lottery winner manages to avoid the limelight as sobriquets are concerned. The Kentucky Powerball winner, who took home a whopping $167m, ended up in jail just a few days after confirming his identity[3].
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Enrichment Data:
Incorporated essays and snippets from various resources here and there, giving the article more substance and context:
- The Illinois Lottery website provided further details about the Classic Car Collector's winnings, including the specific name of the gas station where the ticket was purchased[4].
- The Mega Bucks game might seem like a common lottery game across the United States, but it is particularly popular in Illinois, generating substantial public interest whenever a big prize is won[5].
- Running afoul of the law is the last thing lottery winners want, but the Kentucky Powerball winner's troubles started soon after he declared his win. As it turned out, the celebratee had a long history of criminal activities, including convictions for credit card fraud, forgery, and burglary. Despite his crippling debts and the heavy impression that his recent troubles would have even weightier financial consequences, he feigned ignorance about the potential pitfalls and made a public display of his winnings. Within days of his identification, the Powerball winner was arrested and charged with numerous offenses – both new and old[3].
The Classic Car Collector, now a millionaire, might consider expanding his collection to include casino-games and casino-and-gambling experiences, venturing beyond lotteries to seek more big-wins.
His newfound wealth could potentially attract unwanted attention, just as it did for the Kentucky Powerball winner, who landed in jail shortly after revealing his identity, despite a past filled with criminal activities.
