A Columbus man bought a $1 scratch-off and walked away with a life-changing lottery win. The oversized-load escort vehicle driver hit the top prize on Ohio’s Set for Life game, then chose a six-figure cash payout instead of collecting the winnings over time.
Winner Chooses Cash Over $365,000 Annuity
The winner, who lives in Columbus, won the Set for Life top prize, according to FOX 8 News. The ticket offered $50 a day for 20 years, giving him the choice between a $365,000 annuity and a lump-sum payment.
Ohio Lottery rules list Set for Life as a $1 game with a top prize valued at $365,000, paid at $50 per day for life with a 20-year guarantee, according to the Ohio Lottery game rules. Rather than wait for the installments, the Columbus winner selected the $182,500 cash option.
After an estimated 26.75% in state and federal taxes, the winner is expected to receive $133,681.25, FOX 8 reported. He plans to put the money toward home repairs and improvements, back-to-school shopping, a few family trips and savings — a practical list for a windfall that started with one buck.
Winning Ticket Scanned At Sunbury Travel Center
The lucky ticket was scanned at Pilot Flying J No. 696 on State Route 37 East in Sunbury. The travel center’s official listing places the store at 7735 E OH-37 and confirms that lottery services are available there, according to Pilot’s location listing.
For the winner, the next steps are considerably less dramatic than scratching the ticket: handle the paperwork, plan the spending and make sure the repairs, school shopping and savings all get their share. Not bad for a lottery stop tucked between the fuel pumps and the road trip snacks.
