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Teenage lottery winner gives nearly all $500,000 to parents

The 19-year-old won an instant scratch-off game. 

Mythili Sampathkumar
New York
Tuesday 21 March 2017 10:53 EDT
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A 19-year-old says he will give nearly all his lottery winnings to his parents
A 19-year-old says he will give nearly all his lottery winnings to his parents (PA)

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A teenager who won $500,000 (£401,000) on the lottery, has given nearly all of his winnings to his parents.

The 19-year-old, who has asked to remain anonymous, won on a scratch-off instant lottery game.

He said he planned to invest $5,000 (£4,000) of his winnings, but the rest will go to his parents.

“My parents have done so much for my sister and me," he said in a statement.

The teenager from Williamston, Michigan, added: "Helping them takes a big weight off of their shoulders and mine.”

It was unclear whether his sister will also get a cut of the winnings.

The man bought the winning $10 (£8) Golden Wild Time ticket at a Sunoco gas station in Lansing, Michigan and scratched it off in the store.

Initially, he thought store clerks were playing a prank on him but then saw their genuine excitement, he said in the statement.

His win comes shortly after another 19-year-old also won $500,000 with an scratch-off instant lottery game.

Carlos Carranza Casas of Alachua, Florida, was also successful, but it is unclear if his parents received any of his winnings.

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