Truck driver’s stop for food in Emmitsburg leads to $50,000 Money Maker scratch-off win.
A spontaneous stop during a family road trip turned into a memorable win for a Pennsylvania grandfather, who won a $50,000 top prize on the $5 Money Maker scratch-off.
David Costella, a truck driver from Gettysburg, was traveling back home with his daughter and granddaughter in early March when they stopped by Rutter’s at 10201 Taneytown Pike in Emmitsburg to grab food. David enjoys scratch-off games and decided to grab two $5 tickets including Money Maker to take back home with him.
The tickets nearly went unscratched. About two weeks later, his wife found them while tidying up and reminded him to check them.
As David scratched the Money Maker ticket, his wife watched closely.
“She goes, ‘Are you winning?’” David recalled.
After revealing a matching symbol, David carefully reviewed the ticket, unsure of what he was seeing. He handed it to his daughter.
“She said ‘I think you won,’” David said of his daughter who scanned it using the Maryland Lottery app and confirmed that he was a $50,000 winner.
David said he was still overwhelmed when he arrived at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on March 27 to claim his prize.
He has not finalized plans for the winnings but said part of the prize will help fund a vacation already planned for next year.
The Money Maker ticket launched in December 2025 and this win is the fourth $50,000 top prize to be claimed. Four additional top prizes remain available.
The Frederick County retailer will receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
