Woody Simmons sat in his car and screamed.
Thankfully, it was for good news — the Maryland man had just realized that he won $10 million in a Virginia lottery scratch-off game.
A week ago, Simmons, who works for the U.S. Postal Service and lives in Hyattsville, stopped at a Woodbridge convenience store where he often shops. He noticed a sign inside about a new lottery game, Extreme Millions.
"I thought, 'Well, let me take a chance,' " Simmons told lottery officials in Virginia.
He bought one ticket.
Sitting in his car, he scratched off the ticket and realized that he had won.
"I just screamed in my car with all the windows up," he told lottery officials.
But Simmons told no one about his big winnings. He kept the ticket in his pocket while he worked at his job, according to lottery officials.
"He didn't tell anyone he won, not even his wife," said John Hagerty, a spokesman for the Virginia Lottery. And when he told his wife, Hagerty said, "she didn't believe it."
On Wednesday, Simmons went back to the store, the Optimax Service Center, and claimed his prize — a check from Virginia Lottery officials. A photo shows him smiling as he holds an oversize check for $10 million.
Simmons opted for the one-time cash option of $6.5 million before taxes. He could have chosen to receive the full $10 million over 30 years, according to lottery officials.
Even with his big winnings, Simmons said he plans to go back to work.
Will he go to Disneyland, travel around the world or buy a new car? Simmons didn't tell lottery officials.
"He said he is looking at his options," said Hagerty, who noted that Simmons had done what officials recommend all big-prize winners do immediately: meet with a financial adviser.
The store received a $50,000 commission for selling the winning ticket.
Virginia Lottery officials said there are three other $10 million tickets in the Extreme Millions game. The chances of winning that top prize are 1 in 2,937,600.
Hagerty said it's unclear whether the other $10 million tickets have been sold or are still sitting in stores. When lottery officials set a closing date for the game, winners of any prize have six months after that date to claim their prizes.
A closing date for Extreme Millions has not been set, lottery officials said.
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Hearty Congratulations to Woody Simmons!!!
Yes, a financial adviser comes in handy when you need one like Woody does now.
I won a day ago 100 4x on Extreme and $1,000.00 months ago.
So, congrats to the lucky Multi-Millionaire."
When are we going to hear of a LP member who won $10 million off a scratcher? l can just hear them yell " Lord have mercy! "
** Side note: This afternoon, a guy hands the clerk his MM slip and gives him $1:00 after the clerk runs the slip. l could hear the back and forth on " l only have one dollar, when did it go up to two? I didn't stick around to hear the end of the discussion.. as they say " Oh Well!"
Check out the Florida thread on the Scratchoff forum. Those guys are pretty hard core.
EmtAdam hit again, $1 million.
Cool thread.
How much did the scratch off cost?
Wow rcb, that's outstanding. After Uncle Sam takes a bite, its probably still north of 600K. Congrats to the winner!!
l *think a ticket is in the $20- $25 range.
Thirty Smackeroos. Maybe he'll win something in his home state of Maryland and another picture will be taken...though MD you can remain anonymous.
I would take the cash only because the interest rate. He did correct with a financial advisor. He should retire from the Postal service and if invested correctly he never has to work again. So that is 2 forms of income. Awesome. I am glad it made his day.
Why should he retire from he's job? He's situation is no where close to the Robinsons who won a third of a billion dollars.l recall reading where Mr R said " l will continue to work." Perhaps he sees the Uncles & cousins coming out of the woodwork, siphoning off he's new found wealth, and has the forethought to continue working while investing the money. He has the perfect excuse for when the parasites come calling. He can always respond " The money is all gone, can't you tell, lm still working?"
Why should he retire? I'll give you one good reason. Everyone on his route knows he won that much money. All it takes is one crack addict to shove a gun in his face. I'd sure hate to read a bad story regarding this guy.
How do you know his situation? Do you know what he earns, tax returns, etc? Like seriously.
I am not sure why some just don't get it especially this discussion. Congrats to that worker for winning. He is plastured his pic on here, the state where he won, and who knows on the internet everywhere.
He should retire from what he does. Why are some members saying he should do this, do that, etc?
If anyone else on this site won that type of money you would work too really.
If his face is shown yes everyone knows his route.