Here are 5 million reasons to listen to your mother.
A Delta Air Lines ramp agent took his mom's advice and bought a scratch-off lottery ticket on his 28th birthday — and it turned out to be a $5 million winner.
Clarke, who lives in Queens, said his mother, Andrea, gave him $50 on Dec. 19. The next day, while visiting his girlfriend in Brooklyn for a birthday celebration, Clarke stopped at the Friendly Deli & Grocery in Brownsville.
He bought two $10 "Set for Life" scratch-offs — but never imagined he would win.
"I didn't have high hopes," he said.
Back at his girlfriend's apartment, Clarke said he scratched one of the tickets and saw a match on number 16 with the word "Life" under it, indicating he had hit the jackpot. He recalled screaming "Whoo-whoo-whoo!"
"I started laughing and dancing all around the house," said Clarke.
The first person he tried to get on the phone? Dear old mom.
Andrea, 52, a hospital worker, said she had six missed calls from her son before they were finally able to speak.
"He called me and told me," she said. "I was really happy. I couldn't believe it."
The jackpot prize was $5 million, but instead of incremental payouts, Clarke opted to take the one-time lump sum of $2,453,693.
"I was very surprised that I won the jackpot and feel very blessed. It means I won't have to worry so much," said Clarke, who said he has no plans to quit his day job.
"There will always be something to worry about, but for once, it won't be about money."
His mother has been cautioning him about what to do with the millions, telling him to spend the money wisely and not to splurge or show off.
Clarke said he is looking forward to buying his own home, where his family can live.
"I'll take it one day at a time and see," he said about any other ideas of spending the money, like taking a vacation or buying a boat.
Store owner Mohamed Ali, 42, said he was thrilled to have sold the winning ticket to Clarke.
"He called me and told me. I couldn't believe it. I was happy for him," said Ali.
"This is the first time we've had a big winner. He's lucky."
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I wonder if that is,his mom. Lol
The caption under the pic says it is Yolanda Vega, NY Lottery spokesperson.
Yep, and she is the one always introducing the winners to the public, look her up on Youtube, she loves the spot light.
Part of me thinks it's great that she soaks so much of the attention up, the other part doesn't like sthat she draws that same attention in.
Yoooolaaaaanda Veeeegaaaaa.
EDIT: "Store owner Mohamed Ali" is a nice one, too!
His odds were 6,180,000 to 1.
Here in Arizona, the most a $10 scratcher will pay is $100,000. Of the two $20 scratchers, one pays $250,000 and the other $2.5 million.
"I'll take it one day at a time and see," he said about any other ideas of spending the money, like taking a vacation or buying a boat.
The two happiest days of a man's life - the day he bought the boat and the day he sold the boat.
NICE best news I have heard all day!
Right. Uhhhhh......
Don't know about loving the spotlight part. However.....seeing that she IS the lottery "spokesperson", common sense would be that it is her job.
I'd give up a five million dollar JP just to have my mom back for one more day with her. -sniff-
I hear ya Mike. I sure miss my mom too.
Yeah. Uh...... except that other spokespeople are a bit more demure. But I'm happy you got your daily dose of condescension.
LOL.
Thanks, Max.
I'm happy that you're happy!!!
You're very welcome, Rusty!!!
More proof to Clarke that his mother is as ever tuned in and tapped on to her son's vortex of wants ... awaiting manifestation!
No It clearly reads under the photo, "New York Spokesperson"
.
Oh man, das co'd brah.
Great News for Patrick. Good Fortune to you!
"DON'T HATE, JUST CONGRAULATE "
CONGRADS PATRICK,
Now that will buy A LOT OF CAKES. HAPPY BORN DAY TO YA 
I'll post what I want. You keep posting your moronic comments.
He's so young he should have picked the full prize with incremental payouts.
"Congrats to Patrick!"
Glad this young Man listened to the number one advice giver: His Mom.
As for Yolanda Vega, I always have enjoyed her. Such an animated, happy person. New York could not have picked a better person for that cush job.
Wow that's amazing.
Nice,
But wait until he pays those NY taxes ..........
Yes, I rarely say this but he should have taken the annuity payments. Unlike the average Lottery Post reader, he doesn't have any concrete plans for the money. He is going to lose half in taxes and wind up with only $1.25 million.
The cash lump sum for Powerball is 65% of the annuity. His cash lump sum was only 50% of the guaranteed $5 million (20 years) and of course if New York chose to honor the payments for a lifetime, he would have received far more than $5 million.
I'm happy a young person won, but he didn't work the prize to his advantage. He should have talked to a professional first.
I agree this choice seems a little hasty.
But I can not imagine the lottery not taking advantage of getting out as cheap as possible.
Is there a payment schedule for this game's annuity?
If that is his Mom, then Chris Rock must be his Daddy. Lol
Was just thinking the same thing. Maybe his situation warranted ........
Congratulations Patrick Clarke
Same thoughts here. At his age, I'm shocked he didn't want to do the $5000 a week for life. Even if he only got the 20 year minimum, the tax penalty would be alot worse. If they honored the full life payout, then he would be looking at possibly 50+ year of payments or easily in the 10m+ ballpark.
Cool story, and happy for the winner! I have family from Queens, and this is a really nice lotto story. Momma is always right!
WELCOME TO LP, we do have some NUTS ON HERE, some times we do have to crack'm, we have fun and most always say what we're thinking but we love the Majority anyway & you keep on POSTING WHATEVER YOU WANT! (Love this comment by the way It's right up OUR ALLY LOL)
Some are just too jealous to be HAPPY for others....
CONGRATULATION Mr. PATRICK ON Your WIN and for Listening to Mom, MOM'S are Great! I thought that Picture was VERY COOL to see The Store Owner w/the WINNER, good for them....
mikeintexas & rcbbukeye I Miss Mine VERY MUCH, FEB'S Anniversary for Her & My Sis, Love too them & My Daddy and Happy B.Day!
I am from E. Mesa, AZ, Very nice to meet you, Hang on an ENJOY
I could not find payment schedule for this game's annuity. I am not able to link, but Louis Sgambellone won the same game. "He receives a check from the Lottery quarterly for about $45,000, after state and federal taxes have been taken out." No other info given.
Eighteen-year-old Robert Salo of Brooklyn: "As a top prize winner on the Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch-off, Salo is guaranteed to receive a minimum payment of $1,000,000 over 20 years. Once the $1,000,000 prize has been realized, he will continue to receive an annual check for $52,000 (net $32,398) a year for life."
"Mr. Harvey, 41, Route 38, was feted at Fefee's Market on West Main Street. He won the jackpot prize of $10,000 a week for life Thanksgiving Day after purchasing a $20 Win for Life Spectacular scratch-off ticket at the store.
Although state Lottery officials promote the Win for Life Spectacular instant game as a chance to win $10,000 each week for life, Mr. Harvey actually will receive 19 annual payments of $520,000, according to Lottery spokeswoman Gretchen L. Dizer. After taxes, he will net $343,356 a year. He also will receive one additional payment of $120,000, for a total of $10 million over 20 years.
Annual payments of $120,000 will continue each year as long as Mr. Harvey is alive."
Thanks, LottoYear, these are some great quote examples that show just how different these annuity scratch offs can be. Always read the back of the card and then the press info off the first claimed top prize newsconference.
I've got to assume whoever wrote the story thought that actually finding out about the game was too much effort. It's not a $5 million jackpot with incremental payouts, like the annuities offered for PB or MM. It pays $5,000 per week for life, with a minimum guarantee of $5 million, which means the payments continue for just over 19 years even if the winner falls down the stairs and dies on the way out of the claims office.
That's 260k per year. Depending on what the federal tax rate is for 2017 the lump sum should leave him with between $1.25 and $1.35 million. Sure, he could save the principal forever, but even if he can earn 10% his annual income will only be half of what he could have had. Maybe he's a member here and read too many posts saying you don't need to consult a professional or that taxes might go up in the future.
I don't know, a lot of people don't trust "the system" and therefore want their money all at once. They feel like what if something happens that causes a delay in their payouts. And I kind of agree.......