A 55-year-old Thomasville construction worker is getting ready to build a new life after winning a $50 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot.
"Honey, we won the lotto!" That's what Zippy Vonier, 55, announced to his wife Wednesday morning after discovering that he won $50 million.
"My wife was brushing her teeth, and I told her to come in and sit down," said Vonier, a Thomasville resident. "She was just kind of shocked."
Vonier won by matching all of the winning numbers in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing.
"We got the numbers from a random Quik Pik years ago, and we just kept playing the same numbers," Vonier explained.
The jackpot increased from an advertised $49 million to $50 million after final sales were tallied. Vonier selected the cash option and will receive $38,197,097 before taxes.
Vonier bought the jackpot-winning ticket at Susie Q's #0001, located at 13091 U.S. Highway 319 N. in Thomasville. Georgia Lottery officials presented Vonier with a ceremonial check at the store Friday.
The winning numbers from Tuesday's drawing were 5, 12, 26, 42, and 49, with Mega Ball number 24.
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