SILVER SPRING, MD — A quick stop at the grocery store turned into a life-changing moment for retired railroad worker and Army veteran Clifford Briggs, who walked away with a $100,000 top prize after playing a Maryland Lottery scratch-off.
Briggs, a longtime Silver Spring resident, purchased six Double Your Money tickets from a self-service kiosk inside the Safeway supermarket on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. He had just finished his grocery shopping when he decided to try his luck, not realizing one of the $10 tickets would deliver the biggest win of his life.
Back at home, he began scratching off the tickets, slowly revealing matching numbers and prize amounts. Initially spotting a $10,000 win, he began calling family and friends to share the news. But the excitement doubled — and kept growing — as he uncovered a second $10,000 match, then more. When he fully scratched the ticket, it revealed a $100,000 total payout.
Still in disbelief, Briggs made a copy of the ticket and took it to a local 7-Eleven to scan it. The lottery terminal confirmed it: a $100,000 winner.
He claimed his prize at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on Thursday and recounted the moment he realized just how much he’d won.
A regular player of both scratch-offs and slots at Maryland casinos, Briggs has had some luck over the years with smaller wins, but this is his largest single prize. He said he plans to pay off his vehicle and place the rest in savings.
In retirement, Briggs spends his free time fishing, golfing, and enjoying card games with friends.
Key Points
- Silver Spring man wins $100,000 on Double Your Money Maryland Lottery scratch-off
- Clifford Briggs bought the ticket after grocery shopping at a Safeway in Wheaton
- He plans to use the winnings to pay off his car and save the rest
A simple shopping trip turned into a six-figure surprise for one lucky retiree.
