Fort Washington Man Wins $100,000 Playing Pick 5 Lottery Tickets

A Fort Washington security guard who kept noticing the same five digits on license plates around town parlayed that observation into a $100,000 Maryland Lottery windfall, spending just $2 total on the tickets that changed his finances.

The Prince George's County resident purchased two $1 Pick 5 tickets using the number combination 25121 on December 20 at Royal Food Mart, located at 12500 Livingston Road in Fort Washington. He had stopped at the store that day to buy holiday scratch-offs as gifts for family and friends; the Pick 5 play was almost an afterthought. Both tickets matched all five numbers drawn, each returning a $50,000 top prize.

He did not check the tickets until early January, weeks after buying them. When he did, the math was immediate: "I know how much that is," he recalled thinking upon seeing the results.

The winner, a habitual draw-game player who regularly plays Pick 4 and Bonus Match 5, said the 25121 combination had been appearing on license plates with enough frequency that he felt compelled to play it. "If you see a number three or four times, play it," he said. "You just might get it."

Claiming the prize took longer than expected. An injury kept him from visiting Maryland Lottery headquarters until March 6, more than two months after he first confirmed the win. The Maryland Lottery posted his winners' story on March 9, 2026.

Despite landing the largest win of his life, the Fort Washington man has told virtually no one. "I keep it to myself," he said, noting he has shared the news with only one person. He plans to use the $100,000 to pay medical bills and purchase a used car.

Royal Food Mart received a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the two top-prize-winning tickets.