A 20-year-old "retired" background screening worker from Florida claimed the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions lottery history, lotto officials confirmed.
Shane Missler, of Port Richey, was the lone winner of
the Jan. 5 jackpot. He elected to take a lump sum payout of $281.2
million, officials said.
Missler plans on
plunking down some of the lottery loot for a new home in Tampa and then
pursuing a "variety of passions," according to the Florida Lottery, as well as helping others.
"I intend to take care of my
family, have some fun along the way, and cement a path for financial
success so that I can leave a legacy far into the future," Missler said
in a statement. "I have always been one to encourage the idea of chasing
dreams and I believe life is about the pursuit of passion. I am 20
years old and my journey has only just begun.
The
win didn't come as a shock for Missler, whose attorney set up a private
limited company called "Secret 007, LLC," officials said.
In fact, Missler informed
officials that after purchasing the ticket at the 7-Eleven convenience
store on Ridge Road in Port Richey, about 40 miles northwest of Tampa --
he had “a feeling” he would win the jackpot.
He managed to scoop
up the windfall by taking $5 in scratch-off lottery ticket winnings and
then purchasing five Mega Millions of Quick Pick tickets, the officials
added.
The fourth Quick Pick was the one that delivered home the winning combination, the officials said.
So
when the numbers 28, 30, 39, 59, 70 and the Mega Ball, 10, were
announced, Missler said he simply placed a call to share the news with
his brother.
Then he met with his father the following morning for a cup of coffee, officials said.
The 7-Eleven will receive a $100,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The lucky person who bought the winning $560 million Powerball ticket in New Hampshire is still a mystery.
Lottery officials confirmed that the ticket was sold at Reeds Ferry Market in Merrimack, some 25 miles south of Concord.
The store, officials said, will receive a $75,000 commission.
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