TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - A Florida man's life changed dramatically when a $1 lottery ticket turned into a staggering $1.45 million jackpot win in the Florida Lottery. Larry Strickland, a resident of Tallahassee, claimed his remarkable prize on Thursday, August 3, which was the result of the Jackpot Triple Play game drawing held on February 15. Instead of opting for annuity payments, Strickland decided to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $937,534.15.
Where did Larry Strickland buy his lottery ticket?
The incredible win came from a ticket purchased at a local Publix supermarket situated at 6753 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. As a token of appreciation for selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the store will also receive a $1,000 bonus commission, per WFLA.
In the Jackpot Triple Play game, participants invest $1 for three chances to win the jackpot. To claim victory, players must match three or more numbers from the winning set. For an additional $1, players can enhance their odds by adding a "combo" to the ticket, which combines all of their matches. The jackpot amounts in the Jackpot Triple Play game begin at $250,000 and can progressively roll over until reaching a cap of $2 million before rolling down to increase the lower-prize levels in each drawing until the grand prize is won. Currently, the jackpot stands at an impressive $1.2 million.
Florida's most fortunate
It seems several other Florida men have had their share of luck with the lottery recently. One such winner is a Haines City resident, Roberto Lamboy Jr, who became a multi-millionaire after winning the top prize of $15 million in the Florida Lottery's 30 Billion Dollar Gold Rush Supreme game on July 28. The fortunate winner received his life-changing ticket from the Race Trace located at 2001 West Vine Street in Kissimmee. In this case as well, the store will be rewarded with $30,000 for selling the winning ticket, WFLA reported.
Another winner is Wilford Hancel from Orlando, who secured an exciting future by winning $1,000 a week for life through the multi-state Draw game, CASH4LIFE. The result was announced on July 31. The ticket was purchased from a 7-Eleven located at 1755 North Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. Hancel chose a lump-sum payment of $1 million, in addition to receiving $1,000 per week for life. The 7-Eleven store that sold the ticket will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for their contribution, according to CBS 12.
Furthermore, yet another Florida man, James Amick, struck gold with a $1 million prize by claiming a winning ticket he purchased at a gas station. The 28-year-old from Florahome purchased the fortunate ticket at A&S Market situated at 216 South Ponce De Leon Boulevard in St Augustine. James opted for a one-time lump-sum payment of $890,000. Much like Hancel's case, the A&S Market will receive $2,000 for selling the winning ticket, per Fox 35.
Florida Lottery's impact on education
The Florida Lottery has played a vital role in enhancing education, contributing over $44 billion and supporting more than 950,000 students through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. A remarkable 99% of its revenue is reinvested into Florida's economy, benefiting prize winners, over 13,000 Lottery retailers, and educational initiatives. Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has paid out an astounding $85.8 billion in prizes, transforming the lives of 3,566 individuals by making them millionaires, per its website.
