Ticket to riches: $1 investment at gas station leads to $14 million bonanza
Ticket to riches: $1 investment at gas station leads to $14 million bonanza. (credit: Texas Lottery Commission)
ANGELTON —A trip to a gas station in Brazoria County provided quite a return on one person’s $1 investment.
The Lake Jackson resident claimed a Lotto Texas jackpot prize worth an estimated annuitized $26.75 million for the drawing held on August 10. They selected the cash value option at the time of purchase and received $14,303,717.61 before taxes.
The winning Quick Pick ticket matched all six of the numbers drawn (15-16-25-28-38-53). The ticket was purchased at Murphy USA 5695, 1803 North Velasco Street in Angleton.
After the drawing, the claimant immediately began checking the tickets in the Texas Lottery App. Because it was so soon after the drawing, the results were not yet available in the app, so the claimant checked the numbers manually.
“When I checked the numbers myself and got down to the last line, I realized what I had and I couldn’t believe it,” the person, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Texas Lottery.
The claimant said they immediately called their spouse after realizing they had won, and the two stayed on the phone as the claimant drove over to meet them.
The claimant said they are working with a financial adviser, lawyer and CPA to determine how to manage the winnings, pay off debts and provide long-term financial security for their family.
“I want to be as responsible as possible. But first, I’m going to get a steak and pair of boots.”
All from a Quick Pick ticket that’ll have a lifelong impact on one family.
The winning Lotto Texas jackpot started as an advertised $5 million prize for the drawing on April 22 and stretched 48 drawings before being hit on August 10. For selling the prize winning ticket, the retailer received a $25,000 bonus under the Texas Lottery’s Retailer Bonus Program.
Lotto Texas is played by picking six numbers from one to 54 and offers multimillion-dollar jackpots. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 p.m. CT. For $1 more per Play, a player can select the Extra! add-on feature for a chance to win up to $10,000 more on non-jackpot prizes. More information about playing Lotto Texas and the Extra! add-on feature can be found here.
The Texas Lottery’s functions and activities are administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating a broad range of professions, occupations and industries in Texas. Beginning with the first ticket sold in 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $43 billion in revenue for the state and distributed more than $98 billion in prizes to lottery players. Since 1997, the Texas Lottery has contributed more than $37 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas. As authorized by the Texas Legislature, certain Texas Lottery revenues benefit state programs including the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Since the first veterans’ themed scratch ticket game was launched in 2009, the Texas Lottery has contributed more than $308 million for programs supporting Texas veterans.
The Texas Lottery provides several entertaining games for lottery players including Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto Texas, All or Nothing™, Texas Two Step, Pick 3™, Daily 4™, Cash Five and scratch ticket games. For more information visit us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube or at texaslottery.com. Must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket or enter a promotional second-chance drawing. PLAY RESPONSIBLY.
