Gurnee Resident Wins $2M on Illinois Lottery 'Merry Millionaire' Ticket

From Northstar Lottery Group: “I am going to pay my bills, make wise investments, and maybe take a vacation. I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, and now I can!” Gurnee resident David Martinez said after scratching an Illinois Lottery Merry Millionaire ticket and instantly winning $2,000,000.

Martinez, 60, was at a gas station getting hot chocolate when he decided to buy a Merry Millionaire ticket. He was at home later that day when he scratched it and discovered his $2,000,000 win. “My wife and I were so happy we started jumping up and down!” He immediately signed the back of the ticket and put it in a safe place before presenting it at the Lottery Prize Center in Des Plaines. He chose to take his prize as an annuity and will receive $100,000 each year for 20 years (prior to withholding).

The winning ticket was purchased at Citgo, 3419 Grand Ave., in Gurnee. The retailer received a bonus of $20,000, equal to one percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket. Merry Millionaire is a $20 instant ticket featuring three top prizes of $2,000,000, two of which have not yet been claimed. For more information, please visit here.

About the Illinois Lottery

Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $19 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes like Illinois Veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, MS research, Special Olympics and assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to playing in-store, the Illinois Lottery offers online and mobile play for all draw-based Illinois Lottery games at illinoislottery.com. Players must be at least 18 years old.

Image via Northstar Lottery: David Martinez holds his $2,000,000 winning ticket.