GREENVILLE, S.C. — A Greenville, South Carolina man living at a rescue mission after falling on hard times said he now has a chance at a new home after winning $200,000.
South Carolina Education Lottery officials said the man bought a $10 scratch-off ticket that revealed he was a winner. The man told lottery officials he has lived in Greenville his entire life and used to work construction jobs but after hard times hit, he's been living at a rescue mission.
He bought the winning ticket at Simons Liquors Inc. on West Washington Street and said he jumped, screamed and smiled when he saw the winning numbers. His brother drove him to Columbia on Thursday morning to collect his prize.
"To see a person you know, he gets $200,000 but he doesn't have a penny in his pocket, I couldn't believe he won $200,000," said Simon Sfeir.
Sfeir is the store owner and said he's never seen anyone win a $200,000 ticket. There are two top prizes remaining in The Color of Money game. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 440,000. For selling the claimed ticket, Simons Liquors received a commission of $2,000.
Thanks to rdgrnr for the tip.
He is one lucky man. If I was living in a shelter I don't think I'd buy a $10 scratch ticket.
Even now that I have a job I don't buy many $10 in a year. Thats a big mac meal
Congratulations man!
His BROTHER drove him to Columbia on Thursday morning to collect his prize.
Should I even go there on a Sunday morning?
HOMELESS and buying $10 scratch offs?
Leave that alone too?
Okay Okay! Congrats on your winnings.
Because he was homeless and in despair, his mindset was telling him to roll the dice for a miracle.
I could put myself in his shoes, and would have done the same thing. Although his $10, was the equivalent of spending $500 for most of us.
God truly blessed him. Hoping this money will jump-start his life again.
Now, this is the sort of news I really, really enjoy!! Someone that needs and deserves the money for another good shot at a new beginning! This actually makes my day.
L.L.
There probably are some technicalities which we aren't fully aware of. Like whether he did some odd jobs to earn the money he played with, or, if he accumulated it from passers by giving it to him. Either way, he's better off and I'm sure that anyone that knows him is pretty happy for him.
Hell, I don't even know him and I'm hoping for a follow up story.
L.L.
I guess he was willing to take the risk.
He was in the rIght place at the rIght time and bought the rIght ticket. Ridge has a theory for such occurences. I will let him share it if he chooses to comment on this thread - lol!
When it comes to any scratch game or jackpot game, I'll take the "right place~right time~right ticket" theory over any proposed method...that method has NEVER LOST.
L.L.
He actually gave Todd the tip on this story.
I've always been at the right place, at the right time, just not the right ticket.
Just seeing it now that you pointed that fact out. My eyesight isn't what it used to be.
Credits always get the extra fine print. Understandable.
"Sfeir is the store owner and said he's never seen anyone win a $200,000 ticket."
That's true of most owners of stores that sell lottery tickets. Fact is most never expect to see anyone win a $100 ticket is my impression since they don't leave enough in the cash registers to pay out that amount in case someone ever wins more than a couple of bucks.
I matched 4of6 in Classic Lotto for $70 the other day and had to wait until the clerk sold enough gas to pay me. Since most of her customers used credit cards, it took a few minutes. Next time I'll just wait till I need a fill-up and get a tank of gas instead.
Congratulations....Glad someone who needed the money won!
I think they make at least $100. a day standing at intersections asking for money.
Depending on the location and city, I've heard of some pro's making $300-400 per day.
To make themselves look impoverished, they constantly conceal the money they make.
If your willing to put in the hours and give up some dignity, can be a very nice living indeed.
Added benefit, no taxes, no middleman, no waiting till Friday to get paid.
And usually only mear foot steps away from the liquor store......
I see you've got the liquor on your mind.
You could just be a good candidate for this opportunity Ronnie316.
If you live near a large city, have some old dirty smelly clothes, and a good pitch; You might consider giving up your current trade as a plumber.
What kind of a pitch line would you use? Ex-veteran, family deserted you, terminal disease?
I'm going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. I have known some good folks who have had a rough last 4 years with the econ. being so bad. Congrats to the homeless man...Hopefully he will use it well so that he can find a stable life. I'm going to say he was lucky twice being that I have run into more than one shady storeowner willing to try and rip people off with claiming scratch off's in SC!!
I think I would go with a simple plea of "I lost my Hows"
How original.
I agree and those shady clerks ain't just in SC, petergrfn.
I've caught 'em in TN too.
It's a good way for them to supplement their income from people who don't check their own tickets.
Congrats to the winner! I would get an apartment and stretch the money as far as I could to make it last!-weshar75
Congrats to him on his win and I hope that he uses the money wisely. Funny that his "brother" came to the rescue to drive him to the Lottery HQ to cash in his winning ticket. He should have offered him a corner in his home so that he did not have to stay at the rescue mission! I wonder how much he hit him up for?
People who have nothing (and people named Jack) usually give large amounts away.
Your sure getting a lot of sleep lately.
More of us should do the same.
Shop around for a decent annuity.
All this posting is making me........