March 20 (UPI) — A Maryland man stopped at a grocery store for some fried chicken and ended up buying a scratch-off lottery ticket that earned him a $1 million prize.

The player told Maryland Lottery officials he recently stopped at the Royal Farms store on Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill to buy some fried chicken, and while enjoying his meal he decided to buy two 100X the Cash tickets.

Those tickets earned him a total $50, which he used to buy two more tickets — winning $50 again. The man said he felt emboldened and bought one more ticket, winning the $1 million prize.

“I was shocked,” he said. “At first, I thought it was $1,000, but when I looked closer, I realized it was $1 million. I left the store laughing and in a rush. I even left my food behind because I was so happy. I ran to my car to call my kids.”

The winner said he has been playing the lottery for more than 30 years, and has previously collected two $50,000 prizes, as well as a $10,000 prize just a few weeks ago.

“I’ll always play,” he said. “It’s fun at this age, and I seem to be fortunate.”

The winner said his prize money will go toward paying off his mortgage and saving for his children.