Bibles and bikes for this New York Lottery $7 million winner who promptly quit his job
Rafael Gomez was one of four winners who received their checks at the Resorts World Casino in Queens yesterday. PHOTO: NY Post/ Dennis A. Clark
Winning a large lottery jackpot gave a Brooklyn superintendent the freedom to follow his dream.
Rafael Gomez, 65, won a $7 million Cash4Life jackpot and promptly quit his job to take a cross-country motorcycle trip spreading the word of God.
Rafael and a group of Bible lovin’ pals plan to head to Florida and Vegas by motorcycle - now that he never has to work again, he told the New York Post.
Yolanda Vega (R) & Kylie McDonald (lL) were at Resorts World Casino in Queens today to present oversized prize checks worth $24.5 million to four of New York’s newest Lottery millionaires.
The winners (from left) are Rafael Gomez, winner of a $7 million Cash 4 Life jackpot; Jason Pae, who won $5 million on a Set for Life scratch-off; Dale Davis, who won a guaranteed $2.5 million jackpot on $2,500 a Week for Life scratch off and Juan Hernandez who won $10 million on a $350,000,000 Cash Spectacular scratch-off.
Gomez bought his winning Cash4Life ticket at Bles Broadway food store in Bushwick, New York. PHOTO: Google
Gomez said: ‘The boss said, ‘You’re not gonna leave me right, Raf?’
‘And I said, ‘Boss, consider this my resignation,’’ said Gomez, who lives in Bushwick.
Gomez bought the Cash4Life ticket at Bles Broadway Food in Bushwick with the numbers 3-6-8-9-35 and a “Cash Ball” of 04.”
He soon learned he’d hit the jackpot in the April 4 drawing. “I was mystified when I realized I won,” he said. “I put the ticket in a bible at home for safe keeping.”
On Friday, Gomez took a $4.4 million lump sum after taxes at the Resorts World Casino in Queens.
Gomez, who is a former Marine, said his longtime dream has been to tour the U.S. on a motorcycle.
“When I got out of the Marines in ’75, I always wanted to ride a motorcycle and take a countrywide tour. Well, this time, I get to do it,” he said.
Gomez, who is a former Marine, said his longtime dream has been to tour the U.S. on a motorcycle.
“I have a few guys and I’m going to put a group together.”
He said he’ll ‘spread the gospel’ and ‘help the homeless’ with some of his windfall.
And the name of motorcycle group?
“It’s gonna be called the Bushwick Saints,” he said.
READ MORE: New York Post
ABOUT: CASH4LIFE
The winning CASH4LIFE numbers are drawn from a field of one to 60. The Cash Ball is drawn from a separate field of one to four. The drawing takes place every Monday and Thursday at approximately 9 pm. A lottery draw game prize of any amount may be claimed up to one year from the date of the drawing.