How Florida Rules Helped 20-Year-Old Win Mega Millions Jackpot

In some states he would not even have been old enough to play, but the Mega Millions winner who pocketed a jackpot of $451 million on Friday 5th January has insisted he will use the money wisely. Shane Missler says that even though he is ‘only 20’, he wants to do some good for humanity.

How did a 20-year-old win?

All states have an age restriction for old you have to be to play Mega Millions, but it varies from location to location. In most participating states, the minimum age is 18, while in Nebraska it is 19. However, players in Arizona, Iowa and Louisiana must be 21 to take part, so Missler would not have been eligible if he had lived in or wanted to play in one of those states.

Luckily for him, the rules in Florida allow anyone over the age of 18 to buy lottery tickets, and he purchased his Quick Pick entry from a 7-Eleven located at 7131 Ridge Road in Port Richey.

What will he do next?

While the retailer will receive $100,000 as a bonus for selling the winning ticket, Missler has suddenly been catapulted to a level of wealth beyond his wildest dreams. Rather than take the annuity option on the $451 million, Missler accepted a one-off cash sum of $281.8 million, claiming the money on Friday though a group known as the Secret 007, LLC.

Asked about what he would do with the money, he said: “I'm only 20, but I hope to use it to pursue a variety of passions, help my family and do some good for humanity.”

Financial Legacy

Missler, who was joined by his father and lawyer at his winners’ presentation at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, said in a statement: “If there is one thing I have learned thus far in my short time on this earth it is that those who maintain a positive mindset and stay true to themselves get rewarded. I look forward to the future."

He added: “Although I'm young, I've had a crash course this week in financial management and I feel so fortunate to have this incredible wealth and team behind me. I intend to take care of my family, have some fun along the way and cement a path for financial success so that I can leave a legacy far into the future.”

Big Jackpot

The jackpot won by Missler was the fourth-largest prize ever given away by Mega Millions. It reset to $40 million for the following draw, and is now already back up to $50 million following a couple of rollovers. If you want to take part, you can visit any participating state or choose numbers online. Good luck!