A MASSACHUSETTS family seems to possess an amazing amount of luck after winning the lottery twice.
Thomas Ensko was the lucky winner of the $1 million Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday.
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According to the Massachusetts native, he's been playing the same set of numbers since he started playing the lottery almost two decades ago.
“I’ve been playing the same numbers for the last twenty years," Ensko told NBC affiliate WWLP.
The man stated that the number played correlates to his birthday.
According to the outlet, Ensko purchased the winning ticket at Anderson’s Variety in Blackstone, about 30 miles southwest of Boston on the Rhode Island border.
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When asked how he planned to use his newfound prize money, Ensko stated that he would use it to help his family, specifically his children and grandchildren.
This is not the first that Ensko has been the lucky recipient of a winning ticket.
Twenty years ago, his wife also managed to snag the $1 million prize when she bought an instant ticket.
Despite the massive payout, the Massachusetts couple are the only ones celebrating a surprise payday.
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According to regulations, winners of the massive pot are able to choose between two methods of distribution.
One method would be to receive a lump sum all at once or have it gradually paid out over a set amount of time.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you'll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
A lottery player in Illinois known as "MEGA Millionaire" scored a win of $552 million — the largest sum in US history.
“I was scrolling through my emails when I saw one from the Illinois Lottery saying to check my numbers because I won a prize,” MEGA Millionaire told officials.
“In the past, I’ve won $2 here or $5 there, so I assumed it would be similar.”
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The player's winning strategy was to join lottery games online, via iLottery.
This allows players to purchase draws or subscriptions to different games like Powerball andMega Millionsfrom their mobile device or computer.
“You can’t imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw that I had won the jackpot amount of $552 million," the winner said.
"I actually quit the app and then signed back in to double-check and make sure it was real. It was real alright - but it still feels unreal!”
According to the winner, they managed to guess all five numbers as well as the Mega Ball correctly.
"I am a hard worker. I’ve spent my life as a laborer and once I was making a decent living, I asked my mom to retire and let me take care of her," the winner said.
"It was my way of thanking her for how much she sacrificed for us. I haven’t told her yet about this life-changing windfall but when that time comes, we’re all going to be shedding some happy tears."
The anonymous winner hinted that they planned to use the winnings to retire early.
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“I’ve always dreamed of retiring early and enjoying life with my family" they told officials.
"I think it’s safe to say my dream just came true."
