Jackpot History Made: 3 winners have now claimed America's biggest ever scratch off tickets prize
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BOSTON - The record for the largest scratch off tickets prize has been broken.
And even better, that amount has now been won on three separate occasions.
But it was Desiree Fortini-Craft who has made the headlines this week.
The Hyde Park resident won the third and last $25 million prize from the Massachusetts State Lottery's "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" game.
This extraordinary win is not only the largest scratch-off prize ever won in the USA, but also marks a repeat victory for Fortini-Craft.
Amazingly she had previously won $1 million from a scratch ticket in 2006.
A Lucky Repeat
It started seventeen years ago when Fortini-Craft experienced her first taste of lottery success by winning $1 million.
Then lightning struck twice and her persistence paid off when she recently won this grand prize of $25 million from the "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" scratch ticket.
The odds of winning such a prize were 1 in 10,080,000, making her win a rare event–but not as difficult as Mega Millions at 1 in 302,575,350 odds.
The Winning Moment
Desiree bought her winning ticket at Baker Street Market in West Roxbury last month. She scratched her winning ticket a few weeks ago but kept it in a safe place while on vacation.
- The three $25 million winners of the Massachusetts State Lottery's "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" game are:
Desiree Fortini-Craft, of Hyde Park
Percy Law Group 2023 Lottery Trust-19 of Taunton
Simmons & Schiavo Lottery Trust 2023-28 of Woburn
When she returned and discovered her life-changing win, she claimed her prize at Lottery headquarters alongside her fiancé, Jason Perkins.
She opted for a one-time payment of $16,250,000 before taxes.
Plans for the Prize
In a press statement, Fortini-Craft she was going to enjoy life with her winnings.
Her plans include paying off student loans for her three daughters, making some significant family purchases, and buying a new car.
Desiree also wanted a "really good Christmas in Aruba," a sentiment that reflects her intention to enjoy the fruits of her newfound fortune.
Retailer Reward
Baker Street Market, the retailer that sold the winning ticket, was also rewarded for their part in this one-off event.
They received a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, a significant windfall for the business.
The Game Continues
The "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" is the most expensive scratch ticket ever offered by the Massachusetts State Lottery, with tickets priced at $50 each.
Despite Fortini-Craft's win, the game will continue as there are still seven $1 million prizes and four $2 million payouts available.
Lottery players have bought nearly 17 million of these tickets, totaling about $850 million in sales. The first significant win from this game occurred in Somerville in August.
The "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" has lived up to its name, delivering one of the most significant lottery wins in the history of the Massachusetts State Lottery.
As the game continues, with more prizes to be won, the story of Fortini-Craft's win will undoubtedly attract many more to try their luck.
