First-time Mega Millions player celebrates at dawn

Drawing Date: 1/5/2018

January 9, 2018  – A Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., man decided to purchase a Mega Millions ticket for the first time this week and became a millionaire overnight. Before dawn, Jimmy Morgan checked his ticket against the winning Mega Millions numbers drawn January 5 and realized he matched all five white balls (without the Mega Ball). Once he rubbed his eyes and checked again, he woke his wife in disbelief. After the two triple-checked that the ticket was a winner, an early-morning celebration began.
 
As word spread throughout the small town, Jimmy said he received so many calls from well-wishers he had to charge his phone twice.
 
Tennessee Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Hargrove greeted the couple when they claimed their prize in Nashville and asked Jimmy why he decided to play the multi-state game. He said he played Powerball when the jackpot was especially high, but hadn’t tried Mega Millions. With the game’s $450 million jackpot for that night’s drawing, the clerk at RBS Market in Red Boiling Springs suggested he give it a try. “Do you mean $40 million wouldn’t change your life?!’” Ms. Hargrove replied with a laugh, referring to the starting jackpot for both Powerball and Mega Millions.
 
Not wasting any time, Jimmy claimed his prize the next business day. The first thing he planned to do with his winnings was purchase a new truck to replace his 18-year-old vehicle. In fact, he did just that on the way to Nashville.