By Montserrat Arqué
01 Apr 2024, 2:15 PM EDT
Desiree Fortini-Craft, a resident of Boston’s vibrant Hyde Park neighborhood, has once again been touched by the hand of luck, and this time, in spectacular fashion.
More than 15 years since his first big lottery win, where he secured a $1 million dollar prize, Fortini-Craft has achieved the unthinkable: a staggering $25 million, in a simple scratch-and-win.
The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission confirmed her victory, awarding her the title of the third winner of the $25 million grand prize in the $50 “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” instant game.
Accompanied by her fiancé, Jason Perkins, Fortini-Craft made her triumphant claim at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters, opting for a one-time payment of $16.2 million, tax-free. This stroke of luck comes on the heels of her first big win: an instant prize of $1 million, also claimed in cash and not in annual installments.
Fortini-Craft, who had kept his second lucky ticket, decided to claim the prize upon returning from a vacation in Aruba. With palpable emotion, he shared his plans to enjoy life’s pleasures, highlighting his hard work and emphasizing a festive Christmas celebration on the island paradise.
Additionally, he expressed his firm intention to use a portion of his earnings to pay off his 3 daughters’ student loans, make major family purchases, and purchase a new vehicle.
The winning ticket, purchased at Baker Street Market in West Roxbury, has not only brought Fortini-Craft happiness, but has also earned the store a $50,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
Although all 3 $25 million prizes in the “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” game have been claimed, the game continues to offer opportunities for those who participate, with 7 of the 15 top prizes of $1 million and 4 of the 5 top prizes of $2 million, even without finding its legitimate owners.
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