Like something out of a movie, a man bought a lottery ticket and won. But the story is more interesting and down-to-earth than that. The man told the South Carolina Education Lottery that the day after his birthday, he went out with a friend and decided to buy a scratch-off ticket at the Murphy Express gas station on International Drive in Myrtle Beach. The thing is, thanks to buying that scratch-off ticket, he ended up winning $500,000.
The still-surprised winner said he’s carefully considering what to do with the money
The protagonist of this story chose a $10 My Money Maker scratch-off ticket, never imagining the outcome that awaited him. His birthday luck was on his side, because after buying it, he gave the ticket to his friend to scratch while he drove. However, the man had to pull over when he heard his companion burst into laughter. That was the moment he knew he’d won something. The still-surprised winner said he’s carefully considering what to do with the money.
“I never imagined I would win a lottery like this; it’s truly a blessing”
And it’s not the first time something like this has happened. With the lottery, there are stories that seem almost unbelievable. For example, on one occasion, a man won the jackpot thanks to a ticket seemingly left on the counter of a gas station in Detroit, Michigan. “I scratched the ticket and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw I had won a million dollars,” the lucky winner explained in a press release from the Michigan Lottery. “I never imagined I would win a lottery like this; it’s truly a blessing.” It’s certainly a story that perfectly illustrates what ‘a stroke of luck’ means. The fortunate winner, instead of receiving several payments throughout the year totaling one million dollars (860,000 euros), opted for a single payment of approximately 693,000 dollars (596,000 euros), according to People magazine.
The protagonist of this story said he had planned to save that sum in anticipation of the tougher times ahead
The thing is, after winning a prize, after receiving unexpected money, the same doubts arise. Many lottery winners say they don’t know what to do with the money afterward. Should they invest it, buy a house, pay off debts…? Many choose options that help them live more comfortably, while others end up spending the money in a very short time. The protagonist of this story said he had planned to save that sum in anticipation of the tougher times ahead. “Winning feels great, but it also creates a lot of pressure, because you start imagining all the things you could do,” the man said.
Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli, in a press release, congratulated the lucky winner and said that “instant games, like Blazing Suits, help boost sales while also increasing our support for Michigan schools.” This is because the state lottery transfers game revenues to the Department of Education. In fact, last year it allocated more than $1 billion to schools.
“I spent a lot of money on my friends. Holidays, gold chains, parties, all that”
Knowing how to manage money properly is essential to avoid making mistakes. There’s a particularly notorious case of a man in the UK who won over £9 million and squandered it all. “I spent a lot of money on my friends. Holidays, gold chains, parties, all that,” the man said after losing his entire fortune. He decided to buy everything he couldn’t afford before and do everything he previously lacked the money for. This extravagant lifestyle led to legal trouble: he was arrested more than 30 times and imprisoned three times for offenses including drug possession and dangerous driving.
In conclusion, the stories behind lottery winners are almost like something out of a movie. Whether it’s because someone achieved what many consider nearly impossible, or because of what they decided to spend their newfound fortune on.