$326 million lottery winner reminded of winning ticket by golf buddies
Golf Culture

$326 million lottery winner reminded of winning ticket by golf buddies



Harold Diamond didn't watch the Mega Millions drawing on Election Day eve. He and his wife had Carol had purchased 10 Quick Pick tickets earlier in the day at a Valero gas station in Midddleton, N.Y., because he saw the jackpot's size: $326 million.

"I put the ticket in my wallet and forgot about it," Diamond said.

The next day, the 80-year-old was playing golf with some buddies up Route 17 closer to his hometown of Wurtsboro. His playing partners mentioned the winning ticket had been sold at the same gas station Diamond bought his. Then it dawned on him to check his wallet.

Yup, he'd won.

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A retired elementary school principal, Diamond and his wife decided to take the lump-sum option for the largest winner in the history of the New York Lottery. After taxes, according to WFMY-TV, that comes to $130,676,438.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

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