68-year-old man finds winning $30 million lottery ticket in shirt pocket
A 68-year-old man in the US has made an incredible discovery in his shirt pocket, finding a winning US $24 million (NZ $30.3 million) lottery ticket, days before the deadline.
New Jersey resident Jimmie Smith reportedly often bought tickets without closely checking the results, stashing them in his shirt pocket out of habit.
The New York Lottery gives winners 12 months to claim their prize, and had Smith waited another 48 hours the winning ticket would’ve expired for good.
The gaming commission knew the winning ticket was out there, and had put the call out on social media to make sure entrants had checked all their tickets.
Play #LOTTO, been to TriBeCa? Check your tickets to see if you’re a $24M winner! Your winnings expire on 5/25/17! https://t.co/jMAy3GYlmi pic.twitter.com/qtC0tJcS4c
— New York Lottery (@newyorklottery) May 19, 2017
Smith, a retired security officer, reportedly noticed the story in the local news and then went through his shirt to see if his tickets matched up.
When they did, he didn’t know what to say.
“I had to stick my head out the window and breathe in some fresh air,” he said. “I was in serious doubt. I really had to convince myself this was real.”
Smith will receive the winnings in instalments over the next 26 years.
What are your thoughts?