Latest news with #VanesaMenijvarAcosta
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Daughter wins $2 million after getting lottery ticket from dad
A Georgia woman got a gift from her father worth more than $1 million, but it wasn't a house or an inheritance. Instead, it was a lottery ticket. According to a press release from the Massachusetts Lottery, Vanesa Menijvar Acosta has become the first $2 million winner of the state's $25,000,000 Mega Money game that went live on May 13. Officials said that Acosta won the prize from a scratch-off ticket that she received as a gift from her father. Acosta told lottery officials that she plans to use the one-time payment of $1.3 million to buy a house and attend college. But Acosta is not the only big winner from the ticket. Massachusetts Lottery officials said that the store that sold the winning ticket, East Boston Corner Market, will get a $20,000 bonus as well. Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman wins $2 million from gifted lottery ticket
USA Today
11-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
Daughter wins $2 million after getting lottery ticket from dad
Daughter wins $2 million after getting lottery ticket from dad Show Caption Hide Caption Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you're more likely to land than big bucks. A Georgia woman got a gift from her father worth more than $1 million, but it wasn't a house or an inheritance. Instead, it was a lottery ticket. According to a press release from the Massachusetts Lottery, Vanesa Menijvar Acosta has become the first $2 million winner of the state's $25,000,000 Mega Money game that went live on May 13. Officials said that Acosta won the prize from a scratch-off ticket that she received as a gift from her father. Acosta told lottery officials that she plans to use the one-time payment of $1.3 million to buy a house and attend college. But Acosta is not the only big winner from the ticket. Massachusetts Lottery officials said that the store that sold the winning ticket, East Boston Corner Market, will get a $20,000 bonus as well. Where to buy lottery tickets Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Daughter wins $2 million from lottery ticket she was gifted from her father
A daughter received the gift of a lifetime after winning $2 million from a lottery ticket purchased by her father. Vanesa Menijvar Acosta cashed in on the life-changing prize on May 28 after her father purchased the ticket at East Boston Corner Market in Massachusetts. The store will receive a $20,000 bonus for selling the winning Mega Money instant ticket game. Vanesa has the choice to taking a one-time lump sum of $1.3 million before taxes or incremental payments. She is a resident of Norcross, Georgia, which is a city outside of Atlanta. Vanesa told the Massachusetts Lottery that she plans on buying a house and paying for her college education with her prize money. There are still three more Mega Money instant ticket prizes worth $2 million, three grand prizes of $25 million, and second chance drawings with sums from $100 to $50,000. Another Massachusetts resident, David Strickland, cashed in on a whopping $1 million prize after trying his hand at the Mega Money lottery. He told lottery officials that he'd never been on vacation before and planned to take his first one to Las Vegas with the prize money. Strickland opted for the one-time cash option and took home a lump sum of $650,000 after taxes. He purchased the ticket at Bristol County Wine and Spirits in Berkley. The store is also cashing in on a $10,000 bonus for selling the lucky ticket. The winners' massive checks were cut significantly due to the immense tax on lottery prizes. The federal government takes a 24 percent cut of the winnings, while the state of Massachusetts takes another 5 percent. Even though Vanesa is a resident of Georgia, she'll still be taxed by Massachusetts since that's where the lottery ticket was bought. Massachusetts announces its lottery winners and doesn't allow them to remain anonymous like other states. The two Massachusetts winners opted to receive a lump sum payment as opposed to an annuity. They cashed in on large sums, but lost a wide margin of their winnings by choosing to take the immediate payout. Lottery hopefuls looking to strike similar luck still have a chance, as multiple Mega Money instant tickets have yet to be claimed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Dad's lottery ticket gift makes daughter a millionaire
NORCROSS, Ga. (WJW) — A Georgia woman owes her father big time after he gave her a scratch off lottery ticket as a gift. 2 arrested in recent Parma flamingo theft According to a release from the Massachusetts State Lottery, Vanesa Menijvar Acosta was the first $2 million winner with the state's $25,000,000 Mega Money game. The game just went live last month. She chose the cash option on her prize and received a one-time payment of $1.3 million before taxes. She said she plans to buy a house and go to college with the money. Local Giant Eagle sells lottery ticket worth $100K+ The odds of winning $2 million through the game are 1 in 6,300,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Massachusetts man plans to take his first vacation ever after big lottery win
A Lakeville man is planning to take his first vacation ever after a big scratch ticket win, the Massachusetts State Lottery says. David Strickland won a $1 million prize on the new "$25,000,000 Mega Money" game. He chose the cash option and got a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes. "Strickland said he has never taken a vacation before but plans to change that by putting his winnings towards a trip to Las Vegas," the Lottery said in a statement. He bought the ticket at Bristol County Wine and Spirits in Berkley. The store will get a $10,000 bonus for selling the lucky ticket. Massachusetts Lottery $50 scratch ticket The $25,000,000 Mega Money game, which has been in stores for less than a month, is the Massachusetts Lottery's latest $50 scratch ticket. The Lottery started selling the pricey tickets in 2023. The game has three $25 million grand prizes. Strickland was the first to claim a $1 million prize on the Mega Money ticket. There are 11 million-dollar prizes still available. Georgia resident Vanesa Menijvar Acosta was the first to win a $2 million prize in the game. The Lottery said her ticket, bought at an East Boston store, was a gift from her father. She said she plans to buy a house and go to college with her winnings. There are three more $2 million prizes remaining. The Mega Money game will also have up to 10 "Second Chance Drawings," giving players the opportunity to win as much as $50,000.
