Limo driver wins a million

BY YALDAZ SADAKOVA

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 6:09 PM EDT

Astoria limo driver Marcos Penteado could not believe his eyes when he saw the $1 million symbol printed on his “$500,000,000 Extravaganza” scratch-off ticket. For a few seconds he stood frozen at the counter of the grocery store on 36-20 30th Avenue, just staring at the ticket.

“I got so nervous I had to call work to tell them I wouldn’t be in,” Penteado recalled on Tuesday, July 29, when he received his money from the New York Lottery. The day when he bought the lucky ticket was Wednesday, July 9.

“I buy two tickets every Wednesday - payday - like clockwork, and always this one,” Penteado said.

The 57-year-old driver explained he has been doing so for 14 years, since he emigrated to New York from Brazil.

Penteado said that after returning from a vacation with his wife, Laura, a housekeeper, he plans to use the money to open his own business, perhaps a limo service company or some kind of franchise.

Penteado will receive his $1 million in 20 annual payments.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK LOTTERY
Lottery Drawings Personality Gretchen Dizer (left) with $1 million winner Marcos Penteado (center) and his wife, Laura in front of a yacht docked outside the Water’s Edge Restaurant in Long Island City, where Penteado received his prize.