Man Goes To Store For Mushrooms, Leaves With $5 Million

A New York man is $5 million richer, and he's got mushrooms to thank. John Lewis of Saranac Lake, New York, was on his way to a bartending shift when he stopped at a local Tops Market for last-minute spaghetti-sauce ingredients. Upon receiving $10 in change, the "occasional Lottery player" followed a whim and tried his luck at the scratch-off game "Set For Life." Jackpot.

"I never put my money in those things," Lewis told New York Lottery officials. "What possessed me to be in that store at that time with just the right amount of money in my hand for that machine I will never know."

Lewis quit his bartending job once he was able to verify that the ticket was indeed a winner, reports WCAX. He's chosen to receive his grand prize in annual payments of $172,068 each year for the rest of his life. The 56-year-old plans on helping a family member with medical bills, buying property for himself and his girlfriend, skiing, and maybe even purchasing a new truck. He added, "I was planning on working at something till the day I died. This may open a few more doors, but we're happy with the life we have. It's a good life."

It's not known whether Lewis ever added the mushrooms to his spaghetti sauce, which he told lottery officials is based on a two-day recipe he learned how to make from his father. Here are 10 other recipes for enjoying mushrooms at every meal.