ATLANTA – Phillip Goolsby considers his half-million dollar windfall the best accident ever.
Goolsby of Atlanta intended to try his luck playing last week’s mammoth multi-state jackpot games, but walked away with a $500,000 top prize from the Georgia Lottery instant game Jumbo Jumbo Bucks.
“I’m pretty lucky,” said Goolsby, 32, as he claimed his prize at Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta recently.
Goolsby purchased his lucky ticket from a Georgia Lottery Instant Ticket Vending Machine the Publix at 950 West Peachtree Street NW in Midtown Atlanta.
“I put in $20, but I intended to insert $10,” he explained. “I couldn’t get change, so I chose the ticket and scratched it in the car.”
The lucky winner couldn’t believe his eyes.
“I didn’t believe it. I just looked at it,” Goolsby said. “I just wasn’t sure it was real.”
Working in facilities management, Goolsby intends to purchase a new home and invest the remainder.