'We are just ecstatic': Man credits granddaughter for helping him win $2 million from scratch off game

An Illinois resident recently spent $20 on a scratch-off lottery ticket and walked away with a whopping $2 million top prize.

The lucky winning ticket was purchased by an anonymous man at a Pilot Travel Center along Illinois Route 47 in Morris where the man stopped for gas with his wife.

The 66-year-old chose the 100X Payout scratch-off because his granddaughter loves pink.

His wife felt it was bad luck to scratch off the ticket in front of her, so the couple waited. "Once we got back home, I scratched the ticket alone, and I couldn't believe it, the ticket was a $2 million winner. I was laughing and crying at the same time. We are just ecstatic," the winner said.

After winning the lottery, the fortunate player retired from his job of 40 years and plans to fulfill his dream of traveling the country with his wife.

"When I told my boss the news of my retirement, he wasn't happy," the lucky player told the Illinois Lottery. "He asked me, 'What's it going to take to get you to stay?' I chuckled and said, '$2 million.'"

According to the Illinois Lottery, the man is one of 19 players to become Instant Ticket millionaires in 2023.

More winners:Pennsylvania resident becomes 15th person in the state to win top prize in Cash4life game

What is 100X Payout

100X Payout is an Illinois instant game where players can win up to $2 million. 

Odds of winning 100X Payout

The chances of winning the impressive jackpot are 1 in 1,876,920 with only three top prizes available to be won.

A Illinois Lottery winner can opt for a $1.2 million lump sum or $100,000 annually for 20 years.

Biggest instant game jackpot winner in US

In 2022, A Michigan resident won the largest prize ever from a scratch-off ticket, taking home $6 million from Michigan Lottery's $300,000,000 Diamond Riches game.

A Virginia man won the largest online instant game when he won $1,817,588 playing "Jackpot Spectacular."