BALTIMORE — An Accokeek man who describes himself as “just a lucky guy” claimed a $30,000 Mega Millions prize Wednesday at Maryland Lottery headquarters, one number shy of the massive $980 million jackpot from the Nov. 14 drawing.
The Prince George’s County resident, who asked to remain anonymous, matched four of the five white balls plus the gold Mega Ball. That combination normally pays $10,000, but the 3X Megaplier drawn that night tripled the third-tier prize to $30,000.
Accompanied by his son when he collected the winnings Nov. 26, the father said he focuses almost exclusively on the multi-state games and had a strong feeling about his ticket.
“I told my son, ‘Think about winning,’” the winner recalled. “After the drawing I saw Maryland had three third-tier winners and told him, ‘I think one of them was me.’ Turns out I was right.”
He purchased the lucky ticket at Big B Liquors, 7099 Indian Head Highway in Bryans Road, just across the county line from Accokeek.
While $30,000 is far from the record jackpot won that night on a single ticket sold in Georgia, the winner said the money will still make a meaningful difference. He plans to use the prize for home repairs, to help pay down his son’s student loans, and to fund an upcoming family vacation he had already booked for his wife and son.
“I don’t usually spend a lot on myself,” he added.
The winner told Lottery officials he intends to keep playing, declaring with confidence, “I’m going to hit again. I’ll be back.”
Maryland had three third-tier Mega Millions winners from the Nov. 14 drawing, the others sold in Frederick and Prince George’s counties. The jackpot reset to $50 million after the Georgia winner claimed the ninth-largest prize in U.S. lottery history.
Big B Liquors in Bryans Road receives a $300 bonus from the Lottery for selling the $30,000 ticket.
