Lucky double lottery winner bags $25m on scratchcard years after claiming $1m

05 December 2023 , 13:10

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Desiree Fortini-Craft became the third grand prize winner in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s Billion Dollar Extravaganza (Image: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission)

A woman won $25 million on a scratch ticket, more than 15 years after she claimed another $1 million lottery prize.

Desiree Fortini-Craft, a resident of Boston's Hyde Park neighbourhood, has once again found herself on the receiving end of a lottery windfall. More than 15 years after securing a $1 million lottery prize, Fortini-Craft has clinched a staggering $25 million (£19.8 million) on a scratch ticket. The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission confirmed her win, making her the third recipient of the $25 million grand prize in the "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" $50 instant game.

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Joined by her fiancé, Jason Perkins, Fortini-Craft claimed her prize at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters, choosing a lump-sum payment of $16,250,000 (£12.87 million). The stroke of luck comes hot on the heels of two other major wins—a $25 million instant prize and an $11.7 million Megabucks Doubler jackpot prize—both of which were claimed before Fortini-Craft stepped forward.

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Fortini-Craft hid the ticket after her win and claimed the prize upon returning from her vacation in Aruba. Expressing their excitement, Fortini-Craft shared plans to savour life's pleasures, emphasising their hard work and outlining a festive Christmas celebration in Aruba. The fortunate winner outlined her intentions to allocate a portion of her winnings towards settling her three daughters' student loans, making substantial family purchases, and acquiring a new vehicle.

The winning ticket, purchased at Baker Street Market in West Roxbury, has not only brought joy to Fortini-Craft but also bestowed a $50,000 bonus upon the store for selling the jackpot-winning ticket. This isn't Fortini-Craft's first encounter with lottery luck; she had previously secured a $1 million prize in 2006.

While all three $25 million prizes in the "Billion Dollar Extravaganza" game have been claimed, the game continues to offer opportunities for hopefuls, with seven of the 15 $1 million grand prizes and four of the game's five $2 million grand prizes yet to find their rightful owners. Lottery enthusiasts can still try their luck as tickets for the game remain available for purchase.

Vassia Barba