In a twist that sounds almost too extraordinary to be true, a 68-year-old retired security guard from East Orange, New Jersey, won $24.1 million from the New York Lottery, after uncovering the ticket in the pocket of an old shirt hanging in his closet.
Jimmie Smith, who had faithfully bought lottery tickets in New York and New Jersey for decades, finally decided to check his closet after seeing a TV broadcast reminding holders of unclaimed prizes to come forward. Among the stacks of unused tickets, he found the winning one for the May 25, 2016 drawing with numbers 5, 12, 13, 22, 25, and 35. He checked it just in time, only days before it would have expired.
Recalling the moment, Smith told officials, “I stood there for a minute thinking, ‘Do I see what I think I see?’ I had to stick my head out the window and breathe some fresh air. I was in serious doubt.” He officially claimed his prize on May 23, 2017. Rather than taking a lump sum, he opted for the annuity route, receiving the winnings over 26 years.
Smith’s story is a modern-day fable about missed chances and second chances, reminding us to check the most obvious places because that could be where life-changing luck hides.
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