Man Buys $1 Million Lottery Ticket In Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, VA — Economic hardships have come along with the COVID-19 pandemic in places like the restaurant industry. But one restaurant worker is better off after a top prize lottery win in Mount Vernon.

Nelson Lopez Rivera won the $1 million top prize in the Virginia Lottery's 20X the Money game. The Fort Washington, Maryland resident bought two tickets while picking up food for the week at Sai Express, 8178 Richmond Highway in Mount Vernon.

"Something called me to come buy this ticket," he told lottery officials.

The first ticket was a winner. The second ticket appeared to be a $1,000, but he uncovered additional zeros and found the amount was really $1 million.

Rivera had a choice of taking the full $1 million prize or a one-time cash prize of $601,685 before taxes. He chose the cash option and has not decided what to do yet with his winnings. The store also receives a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

This was the third top prize-winning ticket claimed in the latest 20X the Money game. One top prize remains unclaimed, with the chances of winning being 1 in 1,224,000. The chance of winning any prize between $10 and $1 million are 1 in 3.51.