LaQuedra Edwards last November in Tarzana, Calif. Putting $ 40 on a lottery scratcher machine at Vance Supermarket, luck was unexpectedly on his side.
Edwards could not pick up his ticket that day; A stranger bumps into her, causing her to accidentally pick up a $ 30,200X Scratchers ticket – and win a $ 10 million prize.
Edwards recalls that ruthless encounter, “some rude person” bumped into him, “said nothing and walked out the door.” Annoyed that he could not afford to buy her a cheap ticket, Edwards returned to his car – a lifelong wonder.
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Scratching the ticket reveals that he has won millions. “I didn’t really believe it at first, but I got on the 405 freeway and kept looking down (at the ticket) and I almost crashed my car,” Edwards said. “I dragged it, looked at it over and over, scanned it with my (California Lottery Mobile) app, and I kept thinking it might not be right.”
Edwards plans to use his winner to buy a home and start a nonprofit company, and the lucky tickets that Vance Location sold will receive a $ 50,000 bonus.
How much will Edwards pay after tax? While California is a relatively high tax state, there are exceptions for lottery winners (who bought their tickets in the state, at least.) These wins will usually be subject to the highest federal tax rate – 37% – and, when lumped to gross annual income, local and Can pay state taxes.
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Edwards may not be as rich as the full 10 million, but it’s safe to say that the value of his victory is greater than the forgiveness he received in front of the Lotto machine that day.
