Michael Levy will never forget the New York lottery tickets he purchased on Friday, February 13.
A 46 year-old security guard, Levy, is no stranger to playing lottery scratch-off tickets, but he never had this kind of luck. He received a prize of $1 million at Tavern on the Green in Manhattan.
"I buy them to help me stay awake in the early morning hours; and I usually win something so it's worth it," Levy said.
Levy was working his routine shift at a Bronx construction site when he got the winning Holiday Cashword scratch-off ticket.
"I buy the Holiday Cashword tickets because I figure everyone else is buying the newer games," Levy said.
Levy rushed home to his wife in Jackson Heights after his security shift ended on February 11 to show her the lucky million-dollar ticket.
"She wasn't 100 percent convinced at first, but she came around when I showed her the ticket," Levy said.
According to Levy, his top spending priority is to pay off some debt and buy a house for his family in Queens.
"I would very much like to do that for my family," Levy said.
The New York Lottery presented Levy with a $1 million check during a ceremony held at Tavern on the Green on February 24, but Levy claimed his prize earlier on during the month at a Manhattan Service Center on February 13.
Levy will receive a net check for a little over $600,000 after taxes are deducted and will forever consider Friday, February 13, 2009 "the luckiest day ever."
Jackson Heights resident Michael Levy and his wife hit it big by winning $1 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket.
Congrats to the Levy family.
Congrats on the million$ win!!
I can only guess how Mr.Levy feels right now,he must be walking on air.
Congrats on the win. Must be a typo because it says his shift ended on Feb 11th but he bought the tickets on Feb 13th.
I hope that the Levys find a comfortable home and have a happy life !!!
Very cool! Congrats to them on their win!
A $1M hit on friday the 13'th? wow. Ain't that something. And being a late night security officer in crazy NYC in winter, this is really something. I'm happy for him.
Wow! Congratulation to him. This is the greatest feeling ever. When I won the lotto for a jackpot of $17,000,000 I was stunned. The feeling I had was undiscribeable. One million dollar is ok but its not enough. I spent that on a lamboghini and a Phamtom. I wish him good luck anyway. I wish everyone can win just like we did. Anyone can win the jackpot. Alll you have to do is pick some numbers and let the computer pick some for you. here are some lucky number for the megimillions 08-23-37-39-56-12 good luck all and God bless.
One million dollar will be enough for me. Good luck to you!!!
I could live very good on 1 million just spend it wisely but congrast on his win. Maybe one day my ship will sail in and I will sail out on it!!!!!
You never know cuz. Maybe one day you'll hit it big.
I think the lottery official chooses which states they want to win the jackpot. I do alot of research and I found out that the last time someone win a big Megamillion Jackpot in NY was a longtime ago. Maybe Iam wrong, but the odds for someone in NY to hit the megamillions jackpot is very low. If anyone want the win the jackpot I think they should move To New Jersey and Georgia. They are the two states where big jackpot win often. Otherwise, it just like throwing money in the garbage.
Hope they get some sound advice because after all the Federal, state and NYC income taxes it'll still be a nice chunk of change but no where close to a million dollars. Of course a lot closer than they probably were before though, heh.
The lottery is not fair because the advetsise price is not the price you get. its alot lower
No, that's what you get but then you have to pay taxes on it. That's like complaining that a store's price isn't what you pay because there's sales tax.