Maryland Man Wins $100,000 Lottery Prize From License Plate Numbers

The Fort Washington resident used recurring license plate numbers to play the lottery and hit the jackpot.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A Maryland man from Fort Washington won a $100,000 lottery prize after using a combination of numbers he had been seeing repeatedly on local license plates. The man bought two $1 Pick 5 lottery tickets with the number combination 25121, which he had noticed appearing on multiple vehicles. His lucky tickets ended up earning him $50,000 each in the December 20th drawing, resulting in a total $100,000 prize.

Why it matters

This story highlights how paying attention to patterns and coincidences in everyday life can sometimes lead to unexpected windfalls. The man's keen observation of the recurring license plate numbers, combined with his decision to act on that intuition by playing the lottery, resulted in a life-changing financial windfall that will allow him to pay off medical bills and purchase a used car.

The details

The Fort Washington man said he was out shopping before the holidays when he bought the two winning lottery tickets from the Royal Food Mart in his hometown. Each $1 Pick 5 ticket featured the number combination 25121, which the man had been noticing repeatedly on local license plates. "If you see a number three or four times, play it," the winner advised. "You just might get it." His hunch paid off, with each ticket earning him a $50,000 prize in the December 20th drawing, for a grand total of $100,000.

  • The man bought the winning lottery tickets on an unspecified date before the holidays.
  • The drawing for the $100,000 prize took place on December 20.

The players

Fort Washington Resident

A Maryland man from the town of Fort Washington who won a $100,000 lottery prize by playing a number combination he had been seeing repeatedly on local license plates.

Royal Food Mart

The convenience store in Fort Washington, Maryland where the winning lottery tickets were purchased.

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What they’re saying

“If you see a number three or four times, play it. You just might get it.”

— Fort Washington Resident

The takeaway

This story serves as a reminder to pay attention to the small coincidences and patterns we encounter in daily life, as they can sometimes lead to unexpected rewards. The Fort Washington man's keen observation and willingness to act on his intuition resulted in a life-changing $100,000 lottery prize, underscoring the value of trusting your instincts.