A WOMAN scooped a $522million ( £416million) lottery prize – then waited three months to claim it.
Laarni Bibal discovered she’d won the jackpot after buying a Mega Millions ticket from a supermarket in San Diego, California.
She picked random numbers for her $2 Mega Millions ticket[/caption]
But instead of rushing out to collect her cash, she placed her winning ticket in a “secret hiding place” until she was “ready”, reports the San Diego Tribune.
Bibal selected random numbers for her ticket, which she bought at Sorrento Deli-Mart in June.
Her winning combination was 27, 68, 17, 19 and 40, with 2 as her Mega number.
On September 17, lottery officials finally announced that they had a winner come forward.
The secret hiding place is still a secret
Laarni Bibal
Bibal told the California State Lottery that when she saw her numbers had just been drawn her “heart started beating really fast.”
But she refused to reveal where she’d stashed her ticket.
She said: “I can’t tell you – the secret hiding place is still a secret.”
Officials also revealed how Bibal, whose age and location remain a mystery, had consulted the Lottery Winners Handbook for information on how to handle her winnings.
She opted to take cash – which grants her $340million (£271million) before federal taxes.
most read in news
According to reports, Bibal plans to buy a new home and pay off her bills.
The shop where Bibal bought her ticket also received a payout of $1million (£800,000).
Co-owner Mazen Mikhael said in June: “It’s just awesome. It’s a dream come true. We’ve been selling tickets a long time, but nothing like this.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
