Their first date started with pizza and scratch tickets. Thirty years later, a Minnesota couple, is now $66.9 million dollars richer after playing the same numbers for many years. The winning numbers, 2-8-14-20-31, and Mega Ball 17, were drawn on April 12. The couple bought the jackpot winning ticket at a Holiday gas station in Ramsey.
Although the married couple is choosing to remain anonymous, they have allowed the Minnesota Lottery to share parts of their story. As of Sept. 1, 2021, the names and cities of lottery prize winners above $10,000 are private data. Unless the jackpot winner chooses to opt in to publicity, their name and city will not be released.
Minnesota State Lottery's, Erika Helvick Anderson, says the couple claimed their ticket on Tuesday.
"In spite of knowing they were her numbers, she checked and rechecked and rechecked her phone before texting her husband," said Anderson. The woman then sent a text saying, "Come up here right now. I'm not even kidding," to her husband who was downstairs watching sports.
Before coming forward, the couple hired a few professionals to help them manage their new financial status.
"They have assembled a team to kind of help them through this," said Anderson. "They mentioned a lawyer, a financial advisor, and an accountant."
The couple is still working and has admitted their fortune to a few relatives and co-workers. However, they plan to retire this summer and travel. The couple also says they will spend their money on typical things like a new house and car.
TRIVIA
The Minnesota State Lottery says the couple's winnings are the fifth largest in state history. Since Minnesota joined the game in 2010, this is Minnesota’s first Mega Millions jackpot winner.
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