WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsMarshfield man wins the lottery

Marshfield man wins the lottery

by Colby Robertson

MARSHFIELD (WAOW) -- A Marshfield man is counting his winnings. The 28-year-old got his million dollar lottery payoff.

The owner of the store says it couldn't have happened to a better person. Rafael Ruiz is a father of six, so as you can imagine this money is very much needed.

Rafael Ruiz has a lot to smile about as he's presented with this check for $1,000,000.

Rafael says, "I'm just relieved I don't worry now. I've slept like a baby for two days. I don't have to worry. This is a big part of my life that I don't have to worry about now."

Every Friday Rafael comes to this Marshfield gas station and buys five lottery tickets. Two of the tickets are numbers he picks. The other three are quick picks. In this case, the computer picked his winning numbers.

Rafael says, "The hope of winning something was always on my mind. Even if it was $2,000."

 The chances of Rafael getting all five numbers right is one in 5.1 million.

Donna Manicke, the store manager says, "When I had Rafael come in and check his ticket I told him he was the winner, the look on his face was absolutely priceless, we're so happy for him."

Rafael's winning ticket matched all the numbers except the powerball giving him $200,000, but it was this little bubble here, the powerplay that won him the million.

Rafael says, "The Power Play is just something that's optional and I've always had that and played that every week. It's just a routine thing for me. I play weekly, faithfully and I still will be playing faithfully."

After taxes, Rafael will get $682,500. The first thing Rafael says he will do with the money is go to New York where his family lives.

He also says he plans to buy a reliable vehicle and provide for his family.

Online Reporter: Colby Robertson