Man Finds $24.1 Million Lottery Ticket 2 Days Before It Expired

“We urge New York Lottery players: Check your pockets. Check your glove box. Look under the couch cushions. If you have this winning ticket, we look forward to meeting you,” New York Lottery Commissioner Gweneth Dean, stated earlier this year.

And that’s exactly what 68-year-old Jimmie Smith did as he happened to discover a pile of old unchecked lottery tickets stuffed in the pocket.

May 25, 2016 was the day the winning numbers were pulled. Smith told himself, “I’ll check them when I have time.” Well, if he had checked them 2 days later the ticket would have expired and he would have been out of $24.1 million.

The winning ticket was sold at bodega in New York City. Winners have a year to claim their prize before the ticket is no good. He must have had a sign because Jimmie Smith was just in time!