Friday the 13th Proves to be a Very Lucky Day for One Mega Millions Player

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY (01/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Superstition holds that Friday the 13th is a day of bad luck. That certainly wasn't the case for 35-year-old Daniel Bruckner this year. Bruckner was awarded his $208,000,000 Mega Millions prize check today at the King Kullen supermarket where he made his life changing purchase.

"I went to the King Kullen store I normally go to when we're on Long Island visiting family and friends," explained the California native. "I picked up food for dinner and saw how big the jackpot was so I decided to buy a ticket."

Bruckner's Quick Pick ticket contained the winning combination of numbers drawn for the December 27, 2011 Mega Millions drawing making him the sole winner of the $208,000,000 jackpot. The winning numbers were: 23 – 32 – 33 – 39 - 43 and Mega Ball 08.

Bruckner opted to receive his $208,000,000 jackpot prize in one lump sum payment with a cash value of $153,279,293. His net check will total $101,440,236.

"This has been such a whirlwind I really haven't had time to think about my plans for the money," explained the financial analyst. "I feel lucky enough just having great family and friends around me."

Brucker's $208,000,000 jackpot prize is the largest ever won on Long Island. The previous record belonged to group of Costco workers who won a $201,900,000 Powerball jackpot in June 2011.

The winning ticket was purchased on December 26 at the King Kullen on Middle Country Road in Middle Island. King Kullen will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the jackpot winning ticket. Tony Femminella, Vice President of Store Operations was on hand to accept the bonus check.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing over $3 billion in fiscal year 2010-2011 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's aid represents over 15 percent of total state education funding to local school districts.

Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

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