Massachusetts woman has many plans after $25 million State Lottery grand prize, not her first big win

A Massachusetts woman has some big plans after hitting the biggest scratch ticket prize in Mass Lottery history and it’s not her first big win.

According to the Massachusetts State Lottery, Desiree Fortini-Craft is the third $25 million grand prize winner in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” $50 instant game.

Fortini-Craft, who is from Hyde Park, was joined at Mass Lottery headquarters by her fiancé Jason Perkins when claiming her prize, opted to receive her winnings in the form of a one-time payment of $16,250,000 (before taxes). She said that they want to enjoy life, they are hard workers, and they plan on having a really good Christmas in Aruba. She added that she plans to use some of her winnings to pay off student loans for her three daughters, make some big family purchases, and buy a new car.

Fortini-Craft purchased her winning ticket at Baker Street Market, 419 Baker St. in West Roxbury. She said that she had scratched her winning ticket a few weeks ago and stored it in a secure place before going on a trip to Aruba and claiming her prize when she returned. The store receives a $50,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket.

This is the second grand prize Fortini-Craft has won on a Mass Lottery instant ticket, having previously won a $1 million prize in 2006.

The $25 million prize is the largest instant prize ever offered by the Mass Lottery. All three $25 million prizes have now been claimed in the “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” game.