bigboydan
08-14-2003, 11:15 PM
Associated Press
Aug. 14, 2003 07:46 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Beginner's luck struck for a Miami man from Haiti, who says his half of a $80.9 million Lotto jackpot came the first time he ever played the Florida Lottery.
Jacquelin Ferdinand, 55, claimed his price Monday, choosing a lump sum of $21,601,782.48 over 30 annual payments of about $1,349,000 a year.
"This was the first time I ever played Lotto, and the numbers I chose were at random," Ferdinand said at Florida Lottery headquarters.
Ferdinand said he didn't check his numbers until two weeks after the July 26 drawing. He went to the suburban Miami gas station, where he bought the tickets to jot down the winning numbers.
"I then drove down I-95 checking my numbers when I realized I had all six numbers," Ferdinand said. "I had to pull over because I was stunned, and had to wait 15 minutes before heading off."
Ferdinand said he will meet with his family to decide what to do with his winnings. He said he plans to keep working, but told Lottery officials that he didn't want to disclose his occupation to help protect his privacy.
It was the 10th largest jackpot in Lotto history
Aug. 14, 2003 07:46 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Beginner's luck struck for a Miami man from Haiti, who says his half of a $80.9 million Lotto jackpot came the first time he ever played the Florida Lottery.
Jacquelin Ferdinand, 55, claimed his price Monday, choosing a lump sum of $21,601,782.48 over 30 annual payments of about $1,349,000 a year.
"This was the first time I ever played Lotto, and the numbers I chose were at random," Ferdinand said at Florida Lottery headquarters.
Ferdinand said he didn't check his numbers until two weeks after the July 26 drawing. He went to the suburban Miami gas station, where he bought the tickets to jot down the winning numbers.
"I then drove down I-95 checking my numbers when I realized I had all six numbers," Ferdinand said. "I had to pull over because I was stunned, and had to wait 15 minutes before heading off."
Ferdinand said he will meet with his family to decide what to do with his winnings. He said he plans to keep working, but told Lottery officials that he didn't want to disclose his occupation to help protect his privacy.
It was the 10th largest jackpot in Lotto history