Happy birthday from the Georgia Lottery!
It certainly was a memorable occasion for Preston Fuqua of Gainesville, Georgia. The married father of three bought a lottery scratch-off ticket on his wife’s Nov. 14 birthday — the same night Mega Millions had ballooned to a whopping $980 million jackpot (final ticket sales pushed the grand prize to $983 million).
While one lucky player from Georgia did win the record-setting $983 million Mega Millions grand prize that night, Fuqua scored some cool cash, too: His Georgia Millionaire scratch-off ticket was worth $10,000, according to the state’s lottery organization.
The Georgia Lottery said Fuqua, who has “lived in Gainesville since 1999 with his wife and three children, bought the ticket Friday, Nov. 14, his wife’s birthday,” at Chevron, 4163 Price Road, Gainesville, Georgia, “a convenience store that he visits daily.”
The birthday lottery tale from the Georgia Lottery continues: “Fuqua had taken the day off to get some work done around the house and take her out to eat. When he called to share the news, she didn’t believe him. It wasn’t until he visited the Georgia Lottery office in Duluth, Georgia, to claim his winnings — and sent her a photo holding the big check — that she was convinced.
“I gave my wife some money for Christmas and then the rest is in a savings account. I’m going to hold on to it,” the Georgia Lottery said in its news release about Fuqua, who added, “Well, it’s sitting in a savings account now, but I’m sure it’s going to be blown on fishing equipment!”
According to Georgia Lottery online, “Georgia Millionaire offers players the chance to win instant cash prizes up to $10,000 and entry into a special second-chance drawing where three players will each win $1 million on New Year’s Day, becoming the first new millionaires of the year.”
Players can purchase Georgia Millionaire tickets at Georgia Lottery retailers, with non-winning tickets available for entry at secondchancega.com for a chance to win one of three $1 million prizes announced on New Year’s Day, the lottery site states.
A day after the record-setting Mega Millions drawing, the Georgia Lottery announced where the winning ticket was purchased and from what city. At this time, it is not known who the winner of the $983 million Mega Millions grand prize is. The vetting process typically takes a few weeks, according to organizations like the California Lottery.
The $980 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at Publix, 4000 N. Highway 29, Newnan, Georgia, for the Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Mega Millions lottery drawing. It was a quick pick ticket.
The Georgia Lottery said the store received a $50,000 commission.
Retail bonuses vary by state — for example, two Publix stores in Florida received $100,000 each during previous billion-dollar jackpots. In California, retailers get $1,000,000.
The sole jackpot winner could claim $980 million over 30 annual payments or take a one-time lump sum, valued at nearly $452.2 million before federal taxes.
Mega Millions jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes, per Georgia Lottery rules. In this case, the $980 million Mega Millions winner from Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, drawing has until Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to claim their prize in person at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
Lottery rules vary by state.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.