Man Wins $150,000 A Year For The Rest Of His Life After Buying $5 Scratch Card

Credit: Florida Lottery

Purchasing a scratch card in the hopes of hitting it fortunate and turning a healthy profit is something that we have all tried.

Of course, this means that we wind up spending $5 each time we leave the grocery store or news agency empty-handed.

Every now and then, you may hear a remarkable story of someone who was extremely fortunate to win a substantial sum of money.

Such winnings can provide financial security for the rest of their lives.

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Among them is Gary Thomas, who purchased a scratch card at Lotto Discount Liquor in Campbellton, Florida, which is close to the Alabama line, for a mere $5.

Gary's ticket was very fortunate since it offered him the choice of collecting a lump sum payment of $2,440,000 or $150,000 annually for the remainder of his life.

Gary chose to take his earnings in one lump sum, which is undoubtedly a difficult choice.

He claimed his winnings at the Florida Lottery offices in Tallahassee.

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Knowing his life had been turned upside down, Gary was full of smiles as he picked up his giant check at the Florida headquarters. 

This reaction was quite expected given the life-changing nature of his win.

Beaming over new fortune, Gary said: "It's still sinking in. I couldn't believe it! I still can't believe it!"

In addition to Gary's immense joy upon receiving his prize, Lotto Discount Liquor, situated at 5837 US Highway 231 in Campbellton, will also earn a bonus commission of $4,000 for selling the winning ticket. 

It happened after a $1.7 billion Powerball ticket sold by store owners made them wealthy.

The winning numbers were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64, and a Powerball number of 10, which turned one Californian individual into an overnight billionaire and the second-largest Powerball jackpot winner in history.

In the Florida Lottery Draw Studio in Tallahassee, the Powerball draw took place on Wednesday, October 11.

But the benefits of the draw extend beyond the fortunate ticket winner.

Due to their shop selling the winning ticket, Nidal 'Andy' Khalil and his brother, who own the family-run Midway Market & Liquor store in Frazier Park, are going to get a thrilling $1 million.

Only 'via social media' did Khalil learn that the shop had sold the winning ticket, and at first 'didn't even believe it'.

He told the Post: "I think this could be the biggest thing that’s ever happened at Frazier Park.”

"I hope it is one of my regular customers because we have a few who buy tickets every day."