A trip to the grocery store turned into a life-changing event for 67-year-old Jan Jones. The Fort Myers resident claimed a $1 million prize this week after playing the Florida Lottery’s $25,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier scratch-off game. Jones officially validated the winning ticket at the Lottery’s Fort Myers District Office on October 28.
Rather than receiving the prize in graduated installments, Jones elected to take the winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment.
This choice resulted in a total payout of $638,100.00. The winning ticket was purchased at the Publix supermarket located at 11600 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers, a familiar stop for many in the local community.
READ: Citrus County Man Strikes Gold In Brooksville With $2 Million Florida Lottery Scratch-Off Win
The $25,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier is a $50 game that has become a staple for high-stakes players. It launched with a massive prize pool, including two top prizes of $25 million and sixty separate $1 million prizes. According to lottery officials, the game features more than $1.2 billion in total cash prizes, with overall odds of winning any prize calculated at 1-in-4.09.
While some winners prefer to keep their good fortune private, Florida law maintains transparency in the system. Per Florida Statutes, Chapter 24, the names and cities of residence for all lottery winners are considered public record.
While winners are granted a brief period of privacy, the state is permitted to release this information after 90 days.
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