Akron, Ohio – An Akron man’s decades-long routine of playing the same lottery numbers has finally paid off in dramatic fashion, as he matched all six numbers to win a $3.5 million Classic Lotto jackpot. After 22 years of loyalty to the same set of digits, persistence proved to be the winning strategy.
The winner said he continued buying tickets year after year, even though he had only picked up a couple of small prizes along the way. When asked why he never changed his numbers or gave up, he admitted it was simply because he was “stubborn.”
Two decades of loyalty to the same numbers
For 22 years, he played the exact same combination: 6-8-16-20-26-45. Over time, those numbers became second nature. He said he knows them by heart.
Even after becoming a snowbird and spending part of the year away, he did not break the habit. With help from his best friend, he continued playing. The man explained that he typically spent $10 a month on tickets, and if he was out of town, his friend would buy the tickets for him.
When the drawing results were posted on February 4, 2026, he immediately recognized the winning combination. Even though he did not physically have the ticket with him at the time, he knew the numbers matched. Excited and stunned, he yelled to his wife, “We’re going to get a really big pool!”
Without hesitation, he boarded a plane, flew back to his house, and retrieved the ticket that had been waiting for him.
After claiming the jackpot, the winner chose the cash option of $1.7 million instead of the full annuity. Following mandatory state and federal tax withholdings, he will take home $1,281,875.
The life-changing win also led to an immediate decision: he said he officially retired after collecting the prize. His plans include buying a new house and building a home gym — along with the large swimming pool he promised his wife.
The winning ticket was sold at MAPCO #1929, located at 997 Brown St. in Akron. The retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
After more than two decades of commitment to the same numbers, patience and determination finally turned into a multimillion-dollar reward.
