A Minnesota man has claimed his second major lottery prize in less than 17 months, hitting a Gopher 5 jackpot last week worth nearly $875,000.
Anthony Fusaro of Plymouth, Minnesota, won $1 million playing Mega Millions just last year.
It's just "pure luck," the 46-year-old Fusaro said in a statement issued Monday by lottery officials. "I've always believed it would happen again."
Fusaro won an $874,766 Gopher 5 jackpot in Friday's drawing. He claimed his Mega Millions prize in June 2015.
No lottery customer in Minnesota has ever had multiple payouts that large, said lottery spokeswoman Emily Frost.
The first windfall, even after taxes, allowed Fusaro to pay off his home and student loans, put a down payment on a new home and tuck some in the bank.
This time around, Fusaro said, he intends to zero out his debts and pay off his mortgage once he accounts for the tax obligations.
"It was a great feeling the first time," he said, "and now that we'll be debt free, it's even better."
Has his reservoir of luck now run dry?
"I still think I'm going to do it again," Fusaro said.
Fusaro bought his winning Gopher 5 ticket at the SuperAmerica at 4325 Peony Lane N. in Plymouth. His winning numbers were 13, 18, 21, 22, and 38.
For his Mega Millions prize, Fusaro matched the first five numbers drawn, 2, 9, 11, 22, and 23.
He bought that ticket 2½ miles to the east at the BP gas station at 3855 Plymouth Blvd. in Plymouth.
Anthony Fusaro, "Can I rub your upper arm for good luck?" Congratulations to you!!
These people have all the luck. Why do we even play?
Some guys have all the luck!!
congrats to the winner!
A smart man and also a very lucky one!
Congrats to this guy. Handling his money well, too!
WOW! Congratulations Mr,Anthony Fusaro
THAT WAS EXACTLY MY FIRST THOUGHT!
Stop doing that, (thinking what i'm thinking). LOL
Thank You American Indian for your good luck wishes for all of us here at LP.
"Stop doing that, (thinking what I'm thinking). I agree it is funny how life is.
We are more alike than each one of us realizes.