CLINTON, MD. – A Maryland mechanic who waited three days to check his Powerball ticket discovered he’d won $50,000 — then immediately threw curious customers off the scent by telling them his prize was just $5.
The Clinton resident purchased the Quick Pick ticket at Korner Liquors, 3120 Old Washington Road in Waldorf, according to the Maryland Lottery. He went about his normal routine without checking it until three days later, when a store scanner confirmed his third-tier $50,000 Powerball prize.
Other customers started congratulating the longtime mechanic, but he had little interest in attracting attention. When they asked how much he’d won, he gave them a drastically smaller number: $5.
Key Points
- A Clinton mechanic waited three days before discovering his Powerball ticket was worth $50,000.
- When customers asked about his prize, the low-key winner told them he’d won only $5.
- The mechanic has worked in the trade for nearly 50 years and said he has no extravagant plans for the money.
$50K Powerball Win Gets a $5 Cover Story
The frequent Powerball player let the Lottery’s computer choose his numbers with a Quick Pick before continuing with errands and his regular routine.
Three days passed before he finally scanned the ticket at a store.
Once the $50,000 prize was verified, other customers noticed the excitement and began congratulating him. Rather than announce his five-figure windfall to the room, he quietly claimed he’d won $5.
The mechanic then took the winning ticket home and called his daughter with the real story.
“I thought he was playing,” his daughter recalled. “Are you sure you won?”
She accompanied her father to Maryland Lottery headquarters Sept. 2 when he claimed the prize.
Nearly 50 Years Under the Hood, No Big Spending Plans
The winner has worked as a mechanic for nearly 50 years and told lottery officials he lives a simple life.
That means the $50,000 prize isn’t triggering plans for a lavish spending spree.
“I just want to sit down,” he told the Maryland Lottery.
Even finding time to collect the money proved difficult. The mechanic said customers keep him so busy that he sometimes has to switch off his phone simply to finish his work.
This time, he shut the phone off for a different reason: to make time to claim his $50,000 Powerball prize.
Where was the $50,000 Powerball ticket purchased?
The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Korner Liquors, 3120 Old Washington Road in Waldorf.
Why did the mechanic tell people he won only $5?
According to the Maryland Lottery, he did not want to draw attention to himself when other customers began asking about his win.
What will the Clinton mechanic do with his $50,000 prize?
He did not announce any major purchases. After nearly 50 years working as a mechanic, he told lottery officials, “I just want to sit down.”
Sources: Maryland Lottery winner announcement, Sept. 2, 2026; winner and family statements provided to Maryland Lottery officials.
