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LOTTO LUCK
She could not believe what she was seeing
- Isabelle Hajek, Freelance News & Blogs Reporter
- Isabelle Hajek, Freelance News & Blogs Reporter
ONE lucky gambler is twice a winner after her most recent take home of more than quadruple her first big prize.
Sherri Fowler of Washington DC snagged a $250,000 win on a scratch-off ticket - her second big prize in four months.
Previously, she won one of two $50,000 top prizes on a Win it All scratch-off ticket bought at a liquor store.
After her first win, she told the DC Lottery that it was her brother who inspired her to play.
"I'd buy tickets for him, and he'd win. So, I decided to get some for myself--and I won, too!"Fowler said.
For her first play, she only dished out $5 for the ticket.
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The odds of her winning the top prize on the Win it All game were 1 in 122,100, and despite being low, it seems those were her lucky odds.
The second time, she went to a Chevron just around the corner from the liquor store and purchased a Nothing But Cash scratch-off ticket.
Increasing the risk, Fowler dished out $20 for the ticket, and it paid off.
Right there in the store, she scratched off her second winning ticket, and could not believe her luck.
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"I was at the store and started screaming. I couldn't believe it," Fowler told the DC Lottery.
Again, with 1 in 122,055 odds, she had won one of two top prizes offered in the game.
Winner of $552 million jackpot comes forward to claim largest Mega Millions prize in history & reveals winning strategy
She turned to the people with her to make sure she was not seeing things.
"I had to ask my kids to double-check," said Fowler.
After her last win, she was ready, knowing exactly what she would do with the cash.
"I'm going to get a car this time," she said plainly.
I was at the store and started screaming. I couldn't believe it."
Sherri Fowler
Although still a large sum, Fowler will not be taking home the full $250,000.
At a rate of 8.5% for local tax and 24% taken out federally, she will have around $81,259 withheld from her prize.
But the approximate $168,750 take-home check will still be more than enough for the new vehicle Fowler's in the market for.
LESS THAN EXPECTED
Fowler is just one more in a long line of winners who end up taking home far less than expected.
John Stanhill, 46, got lucky on the500X The Cash game, winning a $1 million prize.
"This just couldn’t have happened at a better time!” John toldFlorida Lottery.
"I'm still freaking out."
The new father was excited to have a financial cushion ahead of the beginning of his family's growth.
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“We won the lottery – and then we won the lottery again with our beautiful, healthy baby boy!” he said.
He ended up taking home around two-thirds of what was expected after taxes at a total of $640,000.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Topics
- Lotto
- Money US
- US Lottery
- Washington DC
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