Matching five numbers in Mega Millions brings with it a base prize of $1 million, but because Claude Guezodje also played the Megaplier, the prize was doubled. Players can add the Megaplier to any Mega Millions ticket for an extra dollar for the chance to multiply some prizes by up to five times their usual value.
Guezodje matched the numbers 13, 15, 24, 67 and 70 – only missing out on the Mega Ball of 17. He bought his ticket from the BP Mini Mart on Bessemer City Road in Gastonia after stopping to pick up a few supplies on a trip to work.
Speaking about why he chose different numbers after regularly playing the same set for five years, he said: “Those numbers were from a Chinese fortune cookie and random numbers I picked for myself. I just liked those numbers and put them together.”
Guezodje, a highway construction worker, was one of two players across the U.S.A who won $2 million on 21st April.
Speaking about how he would spend the money, Guezodje said, “The first thing I’ll do is pay off my car and try to find a small house – nothing crazy. And then of course I want to help my family back home.”
Mega Millions is played every Tuesday and Friday and offers a jackpot that is currently worth $248 million, which is the biggest lottery prize in the world right now.
The game has had to update its jackpot rules due to the coronavirus crisis, with the top prize now based on game sales and interest rates. There had previously been a starting jackpot of $40 million and a minimum increase of $5 million.
State lotteries have imposed restrictions such as closing or reducing office hours, but with such a big jackpot up for grabs there has still been a high demand for tickets and that has also helped to generate valuable revenue for good causes around the nation.