TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man turned $50 in $1 million after winning a top prize from the Florida Lottery’s 500X the Cash scratch-off game.
Paul Nitz, 54, of Merritt Island, claimed his $1 million prize from at the Lottery’s Headquarters Office in Tallahassee. Nitz chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.
His long odds of hitting the grand prize were 1-in-185,709.
| Prize Amount | Odds of Winning | Total Prizes | Prizes Remaining | Prizes Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1MM/YR/LF (MIN 25) | 1-in-21,727,995 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| $1,000,000 | 1-in-185,709 | 234 | 159 | 75 |
| $50,000 | 1-in-120,711 | 360 | 243 | 117 |
| $20,000 | 1-in-20,091 | 2,163 | 1,463 | 700 |
| $10,000 | 1-in-20,035 | 2,169 | 1,471 | 698 |
Nitz bought his winning ticket from Publix, located at 125 East Merritt Island Causeway in Merritt Island. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game features a top prize of $25 million — the largest ever offered on a Florida Scratch-Off game — and the best odds to become an instant millionaire. The Florida Lottery says the game’s overall odds of winning are 1-in-4.50.
