Gaithersburg Man Buys Winning Powerball Ticket Worth $250K

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Gaithersburg resident is $250,000 richer thanks to his last-minute decision to purchase a winning lottery ticket earlier this month.

The 40-year-old man, who is an industrial electrical wiring installer, was working overnight in California, Md. when he decided to accompany a co-worker to Jughead Liquor on Dec. 5, according to state lottery officials. While at the liquor store, the winner reached for a quick-pick Powerball ticket.

Officials said the store's cashier then asked the man if he wanted to pay an extra dollar to activate the Power Play multiplier. The Gaithersburg resident agreed and played a $3 single draw ticket — minutes before ticket sales ended for the night.

The winner told officials: "When the ticket printed out, the cashier actually said, 'Those are winning numbers right there' and I guess he was right!"

The man was one of two players in Maryland who matched four white balls and the Powerball for $50,000, according to officials. But because he activated the Power Play multiplier, he ended up winning $250,000, they added.

The player's wife told officials that the win was an act of fate: the winner had bought the ticket on Dec. 5 with eight minutes left to play; and the couple's youngest son is 5 years old and was born on May 8.

According to officials, the couple intends to buy new cars for their mothers and a new car for themselves. The rest of the prize reportedly will go toward a summer family vacation.

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