3 days ago
Massachusetts $1M lottery winner who's never taken vacation reveals what he's going to do with winnings
A million-dollar Massachusetts lottery winner who's never taken a vacation plans to use his winnings to fund a trip to Las Vegas.
David Strickland, 64, of Lakeville, bought the lucky $25,000,000 Mega Money scratch-off ticket from Bristol County Wine and Spirits in nearby Berkley on Friday.
After winning, Strickland opted to take the pre-tax cash option of $650,000 and he has since been brainstorming about what he plans to do with they money.
'Strickland said he has never taken a vacation before but plans to change that by putting his winnings towards a trip to Las Vegas,' the Massachusetts State Lottery said in a statement to CBS News.
Tom George, the owner of the liquor store, described Strickland is 'an everyday customer' who tends to stick to $1, $2 or $5 scratch-off tickets.
But on Friday, 'he decided to splurge on a $50 ticket,' the owner told the Daily Mail.
After purchasing the ticket, Strickland went out to his truck to play it - rushing back inside when he realized he had a winner, George explained.
George, who had left the store about 20 minutes before Strickland walked in, got a phone call from his wife, who broke the news that their store just sold the highest-valued ticket they have seen to date.
'My wife called and she's like, "What's our commission if you sell a million-dollar scratch ticket?"
A $25,000,000 Mega Money scratch-off ticket (pictured)
'I go, "Why?" And she says, "We might have just sold one."'
The store, which opened in 2022, will earn $10,000 for selling the winning ticket.
'He was excited. Everybody here was excited,' George said.
Attempts by the Daily Mail to reach Strickland were unsuccessful.
The buzz around the shop is that Strickland wants to open up a high-interest savings account to save a chunk of his cash and use some of the remainder to buy a new truck.
'I'm so glad it happened to somebody that we know,' George said.
As for the portion of the prize allotted to the liquor store, George said they plan to use the money to pay off bills, putting it 'right back into the business.'
The $25,000,000 Mega Money ticket debuted in May and includes 11 instant $1 million prizes, three $2 million prizes and three grand prizes of $25 million.
Strickland isn't the only Bay Stater who had a charmed weekend when it comes to lotto.
Alberto Borges of Fall River played the Bonus 100X instant ticket game and also scored $1 million on Friday.
Like Strickland, he chose the $650,000 cash option.
