A Virginia engineer made headlines after donning bold dollar-sign sunglasses and a full disguise to claim her $1 million lottery prize at the Virginia Lottery office. This lucky winner, Lisa Mojica, purchased her winning $10 ’20X The Money’ scratch-off ticket at Dollar Delites in Suffolk, Virginia, completely unaware that she held the last top prize in the game—a staggering $1 million windfall.
Mojica’s strategic move to protect her privacy shines a light on the growing concerns around lottery winners’ anonymity. While Virginia law only allows winners of $10 million or more to remain anonymous, Mojica’s creative approach to disguise herself stood out in her winner’s photo. She described her experience as “surreal” and “shocking,” emotions that were only partially hidden by her flashy eyewear. Although her identity was officially public due to state regulations, her efforts highlight how many lottery winners seek to shield themselves from sudden public attention.
When it came to her payout, Mojica opted to receive her $1 million as a 30-year annuity, rather than the one-time cash lump sum of $625,000 before taxes—a choice that’s less common among instant winners. The retailer who sold the winning ticket will also receive a $10,000 bonus from the Virginia Lottery. As for Mojica, she told officials she has no immediate plans for her newfound fortune.
Game Closure and Lottery Odds
The Virginia Lottery has now officially ended the ’20X The Money’ scratch-off game after Mojica’s win, in keeping with its policy to close games once all top prizes have been claimed. Retailers have been directed to stop selling remaining tickets, and detailed information about the game will remain available on the Virginia Lottery website until all prize claims are final. The odds of winning any prize in this scratch-off game were 1 in 3.65, while the odds of hitting the $1 million top prize were a daunting 1 in 1,958,400. No wonder this win feels so extraordinary!
Expert Insight
Lottery experts note that choosing the annuity payout, as Mojica did, is rare among scratch-off winners. Most winners prefer the lump sum for immediate access to cash, but the annuity can offer long-term financial stability and reduce the risk of overspending. According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 70% of large lottery winners exhaust their winnings within a few years. By selecting the annuity, Mojica could be setting herself up for sustained financial well-being—a valuable lesson for future winners.
For more stories about lottery winners, game closures, and expert tips, check out the latest updates and news at [Nichebrai Lottery News](https://nichebrai.com/news). Which prize option would you choose: lump sum or annuity?