The latest feel-good lotto story comes from the Midwood section of Brooklyn, where 19-year-old Waqas Mazhar picked up a $5 scratch-off ticket that made him a millionaire! While on his way to a cricket game with friends in May, he purchased the winning ticket in Garden City, Long Island, but didn't bother cashing it in until he was in the area again... in July!
Mazhar emigrated from Pakistan with his family five years ago, and says, "I just know I want to help my family and I want to stay living with them." He's currently earning his GED at Kingsborough Community College, and plans to keep residing in the bedroom he shares with his three siblings.
All in all he'll be taking in $31,191 (after taxes) every year, for two decades. He told the Daily News that his "goal is to make my family's life easier. We'll plan what to do with the money together." As for his own personal goal? It remains the same; Mazhar is studying history and plans to pursue a career with the federal government.





Aw, I hope everything works out for him—it sounds like a nice plan!
More stories like this and the little boy who called 911 for his mom please. Warms my heart! :)
I was more startled by the fact he was on his way to a cricket game.
This is a nice story :-)
I really hope he continues with school!
No lump sum? That's bullshit.
This guy obviously never read the lottery winner's handbook about keeping your mouth shut.
That kid should be prepared to meet all sorts of relatives he didn't even know he had.
He held onto the ticket for OVER A MONTH!?
This will ruin his life.
Goes to show that a million ain't what it used to be. Only $31k a year? On the bright side, I don't think an extra $31k every year will "ruin his life." It's not like that would let him buy a Rolls or a yacht.
The newfound income will not ruin his life; the perception of wealth will.
Knucklehead should have taken the lump sum. $300k lump after taxes would have been better than $31K a year.
Looks good for him and his family and because it's only 31k, I doubt there will be a lot of flashy overspending but a big celebration is definitely in order!
Winning the lottery--The Redneck Retirement Plan!
I prefer to think of the lottery as a tax on the mathematically illiterate.