**FORGOTTEN $10 BILL LEADS MO. MAN TO $100,000 LOTTERY PRIZE**
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – In a bizarre turn of events, a Missouri man’s forgotten $10 bill has led him to a life-changing $100,000 lottery prize.
John Smith, 35, of Columbia, Missouri, had purchased a Powerball ticket from a local convenience store on January 1st. As he was leaving the store, he accidentally left the ticket on the counter, forgetting about it until several days later.
“It was just a normal day, I was in a rush and I must have dropped the ticket,” Smith said in an interview. “I didn’t even realize it was gone until I was cleaning out my wallet a few days later. I thought it was just a lost cause.”
However, fate had other plans. Smith received a call from the convenience store owner, who had found the ticket and was trying to track down its owner. The owner, whose name was not released, had checked the winning numbers and realized that the ticket was a winner.
The ticket matched all six numbers in the Powerball drawing, securing a $100,000 prize. Smith was overjoyed when he received the news and rushed to the store to claim his prize.
“I’m still in shock,” Smith said. “I couldn’t believe it. I mean, who forgets a $10 bill and ends up winning $100,000? It’s just crazy.”
The winning ticket was purchased with a $2 bet, and Smith opted for the cash option, taking home a lump sum of $67,000 after taxes.
Smith plans to use the prize money to pay off some debts and invest in his future. “This is a game-changer for me,” he said. “I’m just grateful that I got to experience this and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
The Missouri Lottery Commission reported that the odds of winning a $100,000 prize with a $2 ticket are about 1 in 11,688,053. Smith’s win is a reminder that even the smallest purchases can lead to life-changing outcomes.
**FACTS**
* The winning ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Columbia, Missouri.
* The ticket matched all six numbers in the Powerball drawing.
* The prize money is $100,000, with a cash option of $67,000 after taxes.
* The odds of winning a $100,000 prize with a $2 ticket are about 1 in 11,688,053.
**PHOTO CAPTION**
John Smith, 35, of Columbia, Missouri, holds up his winning Powerball ticket. Smith forgot the ticket at a local convenience store, but it was returned to him, leading to a $100,000 prize. (Photo credit: Courtesy of John Smith)
