Biography & Early Wealth Journey
"We urge New York Lottery players: Check your pockets. Check your glove box. Look under the couch cushions. If you have this winning ticket, we look forward to meeting you."
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The ensuing publicity effort made its way to Smith, who decided to check an old shirt hanging in his closet to see if, possibly, he had the winning ticket. He made this decision on May 23, 2017. The expiration date of the ticket? May 25, 2017. If he'd procrastinated another two days, the ticket that presumably has given him and his family great joy would have provoked quite a different set of emotions. As it was, he was already pretty overwhelmed when he saw that he in fact did have a winning ticket:
"I had to stick my head out the window and breathe in some fresh air. I was in serious doubt. I really had to convince myself this was real."
Smith's story is now open to the public, since the New York Gaming Commission has been able to confirm his ticket and he will receive his $24.1 million jackpot in installments over the next 26 years – give or take a couple days.