Charlie Lagarde's First Lottery Ticket? $1,000-a-Week Winner

Canadian teen Charlie Lagarde bought her first lottery ticket earlier this month and came out a grand prize winner.

Lagarde purchased the ticket March 14 along with a bottle of sparkling wine as part of a coming-of-age ceremony to mark her 18th birthday, according to Loto Quebec.

The Quebec resident’s scratch-off ticket’s winnings gave her a choice — she could take a $780,000 lump sum payment or spread it out — $1,000 a week for life.

Lagarde opted for the annuity. Not only will she look forward to many more years in her lifetime, but the annuity payments are tax-free.

"It's without taxes so it's equivalent to a salary of more than $100,000 a year, so it's a great start in life for that young lady," lottery spokeswoman Patrice Lavoie told The Canadian Press.

"That was her first lottery ticket ever and she fell upon a winning ticket," Lavoie added.

Lagarde said, however, her plans don’t include early retirement. She intends to use the funds to further her education and do a little traveling.

"I want to study photography,” she told Loto Quebec. “One of my dreams would be to work for National Geographic."

Social media users agreed Lagarde chose wisely regarding her first lottery ticket.

Does the research distinguish between getting a lifetime annuity and a lump sum? I think the former would be more likely to lead to happiness. It's kind of like basic income on steroids.

— Rob Carver (@investingidiocy) March 28, 2018

EXACTLY what I thought. Smart young lady. Good for her!

— shane 🏳️🌈 (@shanecenters) March 28, 2018

Well, retirement is taken care of.

— shrug (@azulgris27) March 28, 2018

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