Everyone dreams of winning the lottery every once in a while. So, imagine if you threw away a lottery ticket worth $100,000! Well, that’s what one man from Newberry, South Carolina, did…
Funny Accident
This will teach you to always double-check a lottery ticket! When one unnamed man stopped at a BP gas station in Newberry, he decided to pick up a random Palmetto Cash 5, a local lottery, ticket. After taking a quick look, it didn’t seem like the man had won, so he threw the ticket in the trash and continued pumping his gas.
What he didn’t realize was that he had misread and actually won! “I checked the results for the day before,” the man told the South Carolina Education Lottery about the amazing discovery. When the man arrived home, he took a look at the newspaper while having his morning coffee. That’s when he realized his terrible mistake! He had actually won $100,000! As he grabbed his coat to return to the gas station, the man just hoped he wasn’t too late…
Upsetting Odds
“I couldn’t believe it,” the man said after realizing his mistake. Thankfully, things turned out alright in the end. He ultimately re-found his lottery ticket in the trash and turned it in for his $100,000 winnings. Of course, the man will only receive a portion of that, after taxes. Still, he’s looking at quite the pretty sum afterward. What does he plan on doing with his winnings? Well, the man would like to donate a large portion to charity, while also taking care of some of his grandchildren’s college educations. Meanwhile, the BP gas station will earn a commission of $1,000 for selling the lucky $100,000 ticket.
Now, don’t think this story should inspire anyone to run out and purchase a Palmetto Cash 5 ticket, or any lottery ticket for that matter. Like most lotteries, the odds of winning the grand $100,000 prize sit at a whopping 1 in 501,942. To put that in perspective: you have a better chance of winning a gold medal at the Olympics than winning the grand prize! Still, if you enjoy the thrill of the chase, nothing will come close.
In case you win, though, make sure to make a copy of the ticket before turning it in. Then hire a financial advisor along with an accountant and attorney. This will ensure that the cash will serve any winner well!