An 80-year-old retired elementary school principal became the biggest Mega Millions lottery winner in New York after he won the $326 million jackpot on Nov. 4. Harold Diamond and his wife, Carol, accepted a giant check on Monday at the same Valero gas station in Middleton, New York where he had purchased the ticket.

Diamond, who lives in Wurtsboro, New York, said he and his wife were driving to Middleton on Election Day when his wife asked him to pull over at her "favorite spot" for a bite to eat, USA Today reports.

"She said, 'Stop at the Subway,' and if I didn't stop at the Subway that particular night, we wouldn't be standing here today. So I have to thank her for making me stop here," said the retired educator, who worked at Monticello School District for 39 years.

While they were eating, Diamond said he noticed the flashing Mega Millions sign and decided to spend $10 for 10 tickets of Quick Pick numbers.

"I put the ticket in my wallet and forgot about it," Diamond said in a press release.

However, on the following day, Diamond realized that he hit the jackpot.

"I went to play golf the next day, and the guys in the clubhouse were talking about the jackpot-winning ticket someone bought at a Valero on Route 302 and I thought, 'Wait a minute, I bought a ticket there last night!'" he said according to the New York Post.

Later that night, he saw the numbers on TV.

"I saw the first five numbers so I immediately knew we won a million," he told reporters. "And then when I saw the last number, I yelled up to my wife, 'I think we won a few bucks!'"

Diamond, who retired as principal of George L. Cook Elementary School in 1995, said he was "in a dither, a real daze," when he realized he had the winning ticket.

He and his wife of 55 years opted to take the lump-sum payment, which equates to $130,676,438 after taxes. Diamond said he plans to use the money to help his family and community.

"I always listen to what she says," he said, referring to his wife.

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