Plymouth man wins $50,000 playing Powerball — now he's diving with sharks

For most people, a $50,000 lottery win might mean paying off bills or padding a savings account. For Anthony DeFrancis of Plymouth, it means finally coming face-to-face with one of nature's most fearsome predators.

DeFrancis recently won $50,000 playing Powerball® through the Hoosier Lottery, and he already knows exactly how he plans to spend it — on a shark diving adventure in Florida that has been sitting at the top of his bucket list for years.

"I've been obsessed with sharks since I was a kid, but growing up in the Midwest, I didn't really have access to them," DeFrancis said. "I can't wait to see them up close, in person."

DeFrancis discovered his windfall the way many Hoosier Lottery winners do — by stopping in at his local retailer to have his ticket scanned. The clerk quickly realized the prize was too large to pay out at the store and told him he'd need to visit the Hoosier Lottery directly. DeFrancis made the trip to the Hoosier Lottery office in Mishawaka, where he learned he had won $50,000.

He wasted no time sharing the news, calling his daughter and two sisters right away. Their reaction? Disbelief — quickly followed by excitement about his upcoming underwater adventure.

For someone who grew up in Indiana far from any ocean, sharks were always a fascination that lived on TV screens and in books. Now, with $50,000 in hand, DeFrancis is turning that lifelong passion into a real-life experience. He plans to travel to Florida to dive with sharks and check off one of the biggest items on his bucket list.

Powerball® tickets are available at Hoosier Lottery retailers throughout Indiana.