David Schultze, like so many individuals who play the lottery, figured there was no means he had gained. So when the numbers had been drawn on Jan. 24, he didn’t hassle checking, mentally writing off the price of the ticket as the worth tag for a enjoyable sport of “what if?”
A few month later, although, he got here throughout the ticket once more and figured “what the heck?” and seemed up the successful numbers. The primary was a match, then the second—and by the point he obtained to the tip of the successful numbers, he realized that particular person he’d heard about who had gained $8.4 million was him.
The 68-year-old “spent the entire weekend in shock,” Oregon lottery officials said, then got here in on Feb. 25 to say his winnings.
A retiree from Milwaukie, Schultze instructed lottery officers he usually doesn’t play, however when he noticed the jackpot “getting up there,” he determined to provide it a shot. The shop the place he purchased the ticket will choose up an $84,000 bonus for promoting it.
As for the winnings, Schultze says he doesn’t plan to do something particularly extravagant. Many of the cash shall be invested, he mentioned.
That’s a wise method. One of many biggest mistakes lottery winners make is treating the winnings like they’re not real, spending them with out a lot thought. Specialists say the very best factor you are able to do if you win a lottery, whether or not it’s the PowerBall or a comparably smaller win like Schultze’s, is locate an skilled monetary advisor that can assist you handle it, together with an legal professional and tax knowledgeable who all work collectively to guard your winnings and your monetary future.