Earl Lingard, a resident of the Bronx, recently became a millionaire after winning a top prize from the New York Lottery. He was one of just 15 lucky players statewide to win a $1,000,000 cash prize in the Million Dollar Raffle. This special promotional drawing was held on October 26, 2025, to commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal.
After holding onto the ticket for several months, Lingard officially stepped forward to claim his prize on June 26, 2026. Instead of taking long-term annuity payments, he chose to receive his winnings as a single, one-time lump sum. After the required state and federal tax withholdings, his final take-home payout totaled $651,006.
The winning ticket was originally purchased at He & Jay Stationery, a retail shop located right in the Bronx. Since they sold one of the raffle’s top-prize tickets, the stationery store also walked away with a win, receiving a $5,000 bonus from the New York Lottery for their part in the historic drawing.