Illinois Lotto winner of $14.6M in East St. Louis wants a Lexus and trip to Paris

The winner of a $14.6 million Illinois Lotto ticket bought in downtown East St. Louis plans to buy a Lexus and visit Paris.

The new millionaire also has decided to remain anonymous, according to an Illinois Lottery news release Friday.

“I just want to take care of my family, get a nice house, and drive a Lexus,” the winner said in a statement. “Paris is on my list too! I’m looking forward to sightseeing and taking it all in.

“My granddaughters’ future is my priority and I’m using this prize money to support their education and dreams.”

The winning ticket with a jackpot worth $14.6 million was sold at a convenience store at 306 E. Broadway. The six winning numbers on Aug. 25 were: 5, 9, 14, 18, 22 and 23.

Ed Hamed, the owner of the store, told the News-Democrat his shop is called Gas Mart but it’s listed as a Crown Mart by Illinois Lottery officials. Stores that sell a winning Lotto ticket get 1% of the winning prize, which would be $146,000 for Hamed.

Lotto is an Illinois-only game that is played three times a week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

The jackpot winner is dubbed the “East St. Louis Lotto Winner” in the news release.

“I checked the Illinois Lottery’s website to see who won — and realized it was me,” the winner said. “Of all of the people, it was me! I cried because I was too shocked.”