We've discovered one of the cutest and most surprising lottery stories ever!
Leonard Linton, a 42-year-old man from Pinetta, Florida has recently won the Florida Lottery from using a '100x The Cash' scratch-off game. Leonard does have a special someone to thank for his big winnings - his little dachshund named Ivy!
According to a press release from the Florida Lottery, the night Leonard won the lottery, he was out and received a call that Ivy wasn't feeling very well. Ivy is pregnant, so Leonard wanted to get home to her as soon as possible.
Leonard took a different route home, and on the way he made a quick stop into a Stop N Shop in Live Oak, Florida.
Along with some other items he needed, Leonard decided to purchase a scratch-off game. Little did he know, he would go on to win $2,000,000, the top prize!
The 100x The Cash scratch-off game launched this January and offers players a chance to win one of eight $2 million dollar prizes.
More than $337.9 million is available in cash prizes via playing the game! According to the Florida Lottery, The game's overall odds of winning are 1-in-3.44.
An ecstatic Leonard traveled to the Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida to claim his prize. He decided to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,645,000. What a lucky guy!
On Twitter, a picture of Leonard can be found holding his giant lottery check in one hand, and his adorable little Ivy in the other. She was his lucky charm.
When asked what he plans on doing with the money, Leonard responded, "I still can't believe it. This is life-changing, but I'm definitely getting Ivy a new kennel!"
Sounds to us like she deserves one!
The Stop N Shop store employees in Live Oak will also be celebrating, as the store will be receiving a $4,000 bonus commission payment for selling a winning lottery ticket.
The Florida Lottery notes in its press release that it is responsible for "contributing more than $41 billion to enhance education and sending more than 917,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program." So thankfully, they are working for a good cause.
Congratulations Leonard, and good girl, Ivy!
To read more about their story, visit the link here.
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