Man wins big in lottery before going Christmas shopping. ‘The most happy experience’

A Mega Millions player went to check his ticket before going Christmas shopping — and he realized he won a huge prize.

“It was the most happy experience of my life,” said 52-year-old Estuardo Gomez Diaz, who claimed his prize two days before Christmas, according to an Iowa Lottery news release.

The lottery player from Le Mars said he went to a store with his son to check his ticket from the Dec. 20 drawing, which had an estimated jackpot of $862 million.

He matched four of the five white balls — 2-20-51-56-67 — to win $10,000, which multiplied to $20,000 because he selected the Megaplier option.

“When I scanned it, I saw the number and I just froze!” Gomez told lottery officials.

Gomez said he was speechless after verifying the win with his son.

“I’m overwhelmed with happiness and joy,” he said while accepting his winnings.

Gomez plans to put the winnings toward his home and is considering taking a trip to his native Guatemala.

He told lottery officials winning near Christmas makes for an unforgettable holiday season.

Le Mars is about a 225-mile drive northwest from Des Moines.

What to know about Mega Millions

To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state. Officials have announced they will cost $5 starting in April.

Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Man wins big in lottery before going Christmas shopping. ‘The most happy experience’."