Wesley Chapel Woman Wins Big With Mega Millions Ticket

A Pasco County woman may have a very merry Christmas.

Sheila McNeal purchased a Mega Millions ticket for the drawing on the December 7, 2021. All five of the white ball numbers matched, but the Mega Ball did not. That’s a $1 million winning ticket. She claimed her winnings at the Florida Lottery Tampa District Office.

Sheila purchased the winning ticket at Publix, 1920 County Road 581 in Wesley Chapel. The store will receive $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Florida joined Mega Millions in 2013. The next drawing is on Tuesday, December 21 at 11 p.m. The Mega Millions’ estimated jackpot is up to $171 million.
[Source: Florida Lottery]

So you’ve won the lottery. Now what? Here are 11 ways you could blow that money fast! How would you spend it?

• Cruise out of Port Tampa with 1,000 of your closest friends.

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  You'll quickly learn you have far more friends than you thought once they find out you won the lottery.

• Hire Pat Maroon for your Adult Hockey League Team

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  Hey why not - he's won THREE Stanley Cups in a row now!? And $1 million would be a raise for him. Not only would you get a ringer who can put the puck in the net, we're pretty sure no one would mess with anyone on your team. An enforcer like that is key!

• Busch Gardens Season Passes

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  You could bring about 5,000 of your closest friends.
• Top Tier Rays Season Tickets For 50 Years

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  Hopefully it won't take 50 years to see the Rays win the World Series, but if it takes that long, you can see it all. Plus you get free parking at Tropicana Field.

• Rent Tom Brady’s First Tampa House For a Couple Years

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  When the G.O.A.T. first joined the Bucs, he needed a nice place to crash so he rented Derek Jeter's South Tampa house. The rent? About $44,000 a month, according to various reports.

• Never Cook Again

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  With $1 million, you could have that Cuban / 1905 Salad combo at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor for every meal for the next 50 years.
• Your Own Private Gasparilla

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  Have your own Gasparilla. Rent a few floats and invite a few hundred friends over. You should have plenty of money left over to cover enough Captain Morgan for everyone.

• Live at The Don CeSar For 5 Years

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  Need some beach time? You could spend the next few years on St. Pete Beach. And you would never have to make your own bed!

• Book Duran Duran for a private beach concert.

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  With a million, you could afford to book the band and a small venue for a private show with your friends on Clearwater Beach!
• You can buy a used 2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Alonso

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  The perfect accessory to cruise South Tampa... but used? It's still a Ferrari! It would only cost you about a third of your winnings, though your auto insurance may climb a little. The gecko and general might each want that business.

• Buy a private island.

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  There's a 1-acre island off Tarpon Springs that is for sale at the opening of the Anclote River. You can put a house on it, or just leave it the way it is and enjoy some private outdoor time just a boat ride away.