A routine fuel run in Thonotosassa turned into a windfall when a quick stop for gas left one local driver a millionaire. Fifty-three-year-old Wendell Jackson claimed a $1,000,000 prize from the Florida Lottery’s 500X THE CASH scratch-off and chose a $640,000 lump-sum payout at Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. What started as a simple visit to a neighborhood Petrol Mart ended with a life-changing jackpot.
How the Win Was Claimed
According to Florida Lottery, Jackson officially claimed his prize on December 19, 2025, with records showing the winning ticket was sold at 301 Petrol Mart in Thonotosassa. The agency’s file confirms that he selected the cash option and received a one-time payment of $640,000. These winning-ticket reports serve as the Lottery’s formal documentation for verifying top-prize claims.
The Ticket and the Odds
As reported by Tampa Free Press, the 500X THE CASH scratch-off costs $50 per ticket and advertises a top prize of $25 million. Tampa Free Press notes that the game offers more than $1.66 billion in total cash prizes, with original overall odds of winning at about 1-in-4.23. For million-dollar scratch-off wins, many players opt for the lump-sum option, which trades the higher headline amount for an immediate cash payout.
Money for Schools and Retailers
According to Florida Lottery, ticket sales have generated more than $49.5 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, and the Bright Futures Scholarship program has helped send over one million students to college. The Lottery’s public materials state that roughly two-thirds of ticket revenue is returned to players as prizes, while retailers collect commissions and can earn bonus payouts when they sell top-prize tickets. For a small store clerk working a slow shift, one scratch-off sale can become a headline and a modest retailer bonus.
