A Chicago woman will visit Paris for the first time after winning a $2 million lottery prize, the Illinois Lottery announced last week.
Ebony Austin, 33, was on her way to visit friends in north suburban Antioch when she stopped at Express gas station, 511 Grand Ave. in Ingleside, according to a statement issued by the Illinois Lottery on March 27.
She bought her first, $10 “50X The Cash” lottery ticket and scratched it when she arrived at her friend’s home.
“I didn’t believe I had really won $2 million, but I signed the back of the ticket right away, just in case it was true!” Austin said in the statement.
She then went to three stores to check the ticket, and all confirmed she’d won the money, the Illinois Lottery said.
Austin plans to share the money with friends and family, “invest wisely,” and shop in Paris during her springtime trip, she told the Illinois Lottery.
For selling the ticket, the gas station will get $20,000, or 1 percent of the total prize, Illinois Lottery said.
