m Twenty-year-old Shane Missler is making headlines after winning $451 MILLION in the Mega Millions Lottery— the 4th largest prize in the lottery’s 15-year history.
Missler, who isn’t even old enough to celebrate with an alcoholic beverage, officially retired from his job at a local background screening company after getting the good news.
He had purchased the ticket at a 7-Eleven in Port Richey, a suburb of Tampa.
When the numbers were drawn on January 5th, he was stunned to realize he had picked every single one: 28, 30, 39, 59, 70, and 10. Half an hour after the drawing, Missler made a Facebook post which read simply: “Oh. My. God.” In a statement (quoted by the Tampa Bay Times), the Lottery reveals that Missler wasn’t totally surprised he won because he had “a feeling”.
Missler’s brother was the first to hear the news, and Missler told his father over coffee the next morning. According to lottery officials, Missler opted to collect the one-time lump sum, an amount just over $280 million. To put that into perspective, it’s equal to Taylor Swift’s entire net worth.
According to the Florida Lottery, Shane says:
“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.”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Missler, who is originally from Maine, seems to have a positive attitude, posting inspiring messages on his social media pages: ‘I wake up every day saying ‘Thank You'” and “Chase your Dreams”. His former soccer coach Larry Thornton described him as mature compared to his peers and as a leader who always made people feel welcome. “He’s going to find out what he needs to do and how he’s going to do it,” Thornton said. “I can’t see this going off the rails for somebody like him.”
Although Missler has not conducted any official interviews, his father and lawyer have a released a statement on his behalf (as quoted by Tampa Bay Times): “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.”
“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.”
