New York Daily News

$451M BABY!

At just 20, he hits Mega Millions lottery

- BY NANCY DILLON

A FLORIDA millennial just won a $451 million lottery jackpot — and his first stop was social media.

“Oh. My. God,” Shane Missler wrote in a flabbergas­ted Facebook post Jan. 5, the day he learned he won the staggering Mega Millions drawing.

The 20-year-old from Port Richey stepped forward to publicly claim his prize this Friday in Tallahasse­e.

Missler chose to receive a onetime, lump-sum payment totaling $281,874,999, officials said.

He held the sole ticket for the fourth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.

“I’m only 20, but I hope to use it to pursue a variety of passions, help my family and do some good for humanity,” Missler said in a statement provided by lottery officials.

His lawyer Walt Blenner said Missler (photo) purchased the winning ticket at a 7-Eleven. He used the proceeds from a winning scratch-off ticket to buy five Mega Millions quick pick tickets. Missler quickly “retired” from his job at a local background-screening company and plans to relocate from Tampa Bay and pursue further education, Blenner said. “Although I’m young, I’ve had a crash course this week in financial management, and I feel so fortunate to have this incredible wealth and team behind me,” Missler said in the law firm’s release.

“I intend to take care of my family, have some fun along the way and cement a path for financial success so that I can leave a legacy far into the future.

“If there is one thing I have learned thus far in my short time on this earth, (it) is that those who maintain a positive mind-set and stay true to themselves get rewarded.”

Missler’s winning numbers were 28-30-39-59-70 and the Mega Ball was 10.

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