Daughter Receives Lottery Ticket as a Birthday Gift from Dad Ends Up Winning $2 Million Jackpot

A young woman won big thanks to her father, who gave her a lottery ticket as a gift. In a statement on Wednesday, May 28, Massachusetts Lottery officials said Vanesa Menjivar Acosta from Norcross, Georgia, became the first $2 million prize winner in the state lottery’s new “$25,000,000 Mega Money” game that went live in mid-May.

Officials said Menjivar Acosta chose the cash option and received a $1,300,000 one-time, pre-tax payment. As for what she plans on doing with her winnings, she told officials that she plans to buy a home — and attend college.

Additionally, lottery officials said they’re giving a $20,000 bonus to a corner market in East Boston, where her dad bought the winning ticket.

More lottery players may eventually find themselves in luck as well. “The $25,000,000 Mega Money instant ticket includes three more instant prizes of $2 million, and three grand prizes of $25,000,000,” officials said in the statement.

“The game’s Second Chance Drawings will include up to ten drawings during the sales period of the game."