He thought he won $50,000. But SC man was in for an even bigger lottery prize
A South Carolina lottery player thought he won $50,000 — but he was in for an even bigger surprise.
The man took a second look at his lucky ticket and discovered it was worth $250,000, according to the S.C. Education Lottery.
“It was a complete shock,” the winner said in a Feb. 1 news release.
Officials said the man was on his way to pick up dinner when he stopped at OM Food Mart in Easley. While at the store roughly 10 miles southwest of downtown Greenville, he tried his luck on a ticket for the Powerball game.
The man got $5 in change and used that money to buy another ticket, this time for the Giant Jumbo Bucks scratch-off game. It turns out, the scratch-off beat 1-in-960,000 odds to win big.
“I’m so happy,” said the winner, who wasn’t identified in the news release.
The man kept $172,500 after taxes, according to S.C. Education Lottery spokesperson Holli Armstrong. After hitting the jackpot, the winner said he plans to pay for a home contractor and donate to his church.
It’s not the first time that a South Carolina lottery player was mistaken about a major prize. In 2021, a man thought he won $3 before realizing he was getting much richer, McClatchy News reported.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
This story was originally published February 2, 2023 at 6:27 AM with the headline "He thought he won $50,000. But SC man was in for an even bigger lottery prize."
