Florida Man Wins $1 Million From $50 Scratch-Off Ticket at Publix

Julie Anne L.
· ·

A simple trip to the grocery store turned into a life-changing moment for one Florida man.

Alexander Demooy, 38, of Naples, walked into his local Publix and walked out with a $1 million lottery win. According to the Florida Lottery, Demooy purchased a $50 scratch-off ticket from the game 500X The Cash, one of the state’s most high-stakes instant-win games.

Photo via USA Today

Demooy chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $640,000. Meanwhile, the Publix store that sold him the winning ticket received a $2,000 bonus commission from the state for facilitating the sale.

This win is part of the Florida Lottery’s 500X The Cash game, which has already produced multiple millionaires. The game offers a top prize of $25 million, and as of April 2025, one of those top-tier prizes remains unclaimed.

What Are the Odds?

Winning the lottery isn’t easy — but Demooy beat the odds. Players have a 1 in 4.23 chance of winning any prize when purchasing a 500X The Cash ticket. However, the odds of winning $1 million specifically? Roughly 1 in 274,004.

And if you’re eyeing that $25 million prize, your chances drop significantly — the odds are 1 in 21,920,355.

Scratch-Off Games Are Big Business

Scratch-offs are more than just quick fun. According to the Florida Lottery, these games made up about 74% of all ticket sales in the 2023–2024 fiscal year. They remain one of the most popular forms of lottery play, especially among those hoping for instant results.

Demooy’s win adds to a growing list of recent success stories from around the country, showing that big rewards can come from small moments — even during a routine grocery run. 

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Julie Anne Loquinario

Hey, it's Julie! Fueled by coffee and cuddles from my 5 feline overlords, I'm on a perpetual quest for the perfect plate. When I'm not exploring new restos, you'll find me curled up with a good book or planning my next adventure.

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