Florida man walks into Publix, leaves $1 million richer after winning scratch-off
A Florida man went to a grocery store and left $1 million richer after winning a scratch-off game, according to lottery officials.
On Monday, the Florida Lottery announced that Alexander Demooy, 38, from Naples, Florida, won $1 million after he went to Publix, a grocery store, purchased a $50 scratch-off ticket and played the 500X The Cash Scratch-Off game.
Demooy received his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000, according to a press release. Publix also received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the lucky ticket.
"Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery's portfolio of games, comprising approximately 74 percent of ticket sales in fiscal year 2023-2024," the Florida Lottery stated.
Did anyone win the Powerball jackpot? Winning numbers for April 14 drawing: Jackpot rises to $100 million
While Demooy won $1 million while playing the scratch-off game, players can win a max of $25 million when purchasing the $50 scratch-off card.
One of the two top prizes remains, according to the lottery.
There is a 1 in 4.23 chance players win any prize when they purchase a 500X The Cash scratch-off, according to the lottery. But, people with dreams of winning $25 million or even $1 million will need to be extra lucky.
The odds of winning the $1 million prize are 1 in 274,004, while the odds of winning the last $25 million prize are one in 21,920,355.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida man wins $1 million from $50 scratch-off purchased at Publix
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Portillo's opening new locations in 2025, including first in Georgia
Portillo's opening new locations in 2025, including first in Georgia Show Caption Hide Caption How to take your hot dog to the next level Hot dogs don't have to be boring. Here are 5 ways to upgrade the classic American staple. ProblemSolved, Reviewed Portillo's, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, announced its plans to expand as the year nears its halfway point. The fast-casual restaurant chain, which also serves beef and sausage sandwiches and pasta, will have opened up 12 new locations by the end of the year. Among the new restaurants, most will be in Texas and, for the first time, in Georgia. The location in Kennesaw, Georgia, will open during the latter half of 2025, Sara Wirth, the director of PR, IR and internal communications at Portillo's, told USA TODAY. Wirth said Portillo's fiscal 2025 is focused on restaurant growth outside Chicagoland, where the chain already has a presence. The chain's current focus is the Sunbelt, primarily in Texas, but there are plans to enter the Atlanta and San Antonio markets in the second half of 2025, she added. In addition to the new locations, Wirth said Portillo's plans to open its first walk-up restaurant format later this year. Although Portillo's has plans set, Wirth stated that the chain will "continue to fill-in existing markets, including Chicagoland and adjacent markets as opportunities come available." What is Portillo's? The 62-year-old company opened its first hot dog stand called "The Dog House" in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois. The company began as a trailer with no bathroom and no running water. Owner Dick Portillo spent $1,100 on the trailer, running a 250-foot garden hose from a nearby building into the trailer for water, the company said on its website. Four years after opening 'The Dog House,' the company was renamed Portillo's and moved into a new building. In 2000, the company began shipping nationwide, and five years later, expanded outside of Illinois with a location in Buena Park, California. The company has continued to open new restaurants in states such as Indiana, Arizona, and Florida. The company welcomed new customers this year at three locations in Orland Park, Illinois, and in Katy and Willowbrook, Texas, Wirth said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Portillo's opening new locations in 2025, including first in Georgia
Portillo's, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, announced its plans to expand as the year nears its halfway point. The fast-casual restaurant chain, which also serves beef and sausage sandwiches and pasta, will have opened up 12 new locations by the end of the year. Among the new restaurants, most will be in Texas and, for the first time, in Georgia. The location in Kennesaw, Georgia, will open during the latter half of 2025, Sara Wirth, the director of PR, IR and internal communications at Portillo's, told USA TODAY. Wirth said Portillo's fiscal 2025 is focused on restaurant growth outside Chicagoland, where the chain already has a presence. The chain's current focus is the Sunbelt, primarily in Texas, but there are plans to enter the Atlanta and San Antonio markets in the second half of 2025, she added. In addition to the new locations, Wirth said Portillo's plans to open its first walk-up restaurant format later this year. Although Portillo's has plans set, Wirth stated that the chain will "continue to fill-in existing markets, including Chicagoland and adjacent markets as opportunities come available." The 62-year-old company opened its first hot dog stand called "The Dog House" in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois. The company began as a trailer with no bathroom and no running water. Owner Dick Portillo spent $1,100 on the trailer, running a 250-foot garden hose from a nearby building into the trailer for water, the company said on its website. Four years after opening 'The Dog House,' the company was renamed Portillo's and moved into a new building. In 2000, the company began shipping nationwide, and five years later, expanded outside of Illinois with a location in Buena Park, California. The company has continued to open new restaurants in states such as Indiana, Arizona, and Florida. The company welcomed new customers this year at three locations in Orland Park, Illinois, and in Katy and Willowbrook, Texas, Wirth said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Portillo's opening new locations in 2025: See where Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Publix opening new stores by end of 2025: See where
Publix opening new stores by end of 2025: See where Show Caption Hide Caption Giant Publix shopping cart cruises through Florida A massive Publix shopping cart was spotted cruising down through a Florida neighborhood to celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Wesley Chapel. Fox - 35 Orlando Shoppers wanting to join "Club Publix" will soon have the chance as the Florida-headquartered grocery chain intends to add stores across nine more states. Publix currently has locations in Alabama (94 stores), Florida (878 stores), Georgia (220 stores), Kentucky (4 stores), North Carolina (58 stores), South Carolina (70 stores), Tennessee (59 stores) and Virginia (24 stores). There are plans to open more stores in the eight Southeast states, and so far this year, Publix has opened locations in each of them except Alabama and Tennessee. By the end of the year, the grocery chain will have new locations in Foley, Alabama and Spring Hill, Tennessee, said media relations manager Nicole Krauss. According to Krauss, Publix is opening three replacement stores in Florida and an additional store in Louisville, Kentucky. Publix has been open for over 90 years Publix was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida, about 50 miles southwest of Orlando. According to the company, Publix has over 260,000 employees. Last year, Publix reached $59.7 billion in retail sales. 'We look forward to welcoming both longtime and new customers and associates to their new Publix stores, and to becoming a valued part of each of these special communities," Krauss said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
