Marvin Rosales-Martinez found the scratch-off lottery ticket in a pile of leaves in October 2012. But because he couldn't prove to lottery officials that he was the rightful owner of the soggy ticket, he had to wait a year to claim his prize in accordance with New York lottery rules.
Rosales-Martinez was one of five lottery winners in New York to claim a prize Friday.
The 27-year-old Long Island resident finally took home his cash payout of $779,106. After required tax withholdings, his prize is $515,612, lottery officials said.
CNN contributed to this report.
