The winner of a $40 million lottery jackpot said initially he couldn't believe he had won, since the ticket was bought on April Fools' Day.
“I laughed. I thought it was April Fools,” Earl Lape said after claiming his prize at the Iowa Lottery hq.
“I thought it was a joke,” said Earl Lape, a 61-year-old retired mechanic from Iowa. He wasn't convinced he won until he checked his Lotto America ticket with a convenience store clerk, the Iowa Lottery reports.
A cash prize would have been $21.28 million; an annuity prize of $40 million would have been paid over 29 years. Lape chose cash for his winnings, which were $21.28 million.
Unlike Powerball and Mega Millions, Lotto America offers lower prizes. However, the chances of winning the jackpot are better - 1 in 26 million.
In addition to helping his family, Lape plans to make donations to children with medical problems.