For the second time in three years, the first score of the Super Bowl was a safety. And for the second time in three years, Jona Rechnitz cashed in big time.

According to TMZ, Rechnitz, a New York real estate mogul, bet $500 at 50-to-1 odds that the first score of this year's Super Bowl would be a Seattle safety. After center Manny Ramirez's first snap of the game flew by Peyton Manning and into the end zone, Rechnitz was $25,000 richer.


Two years ago Rechnitz bet that the first score of Super Bowl XLII would be a safety. He put down $1,000 that time and came out with $50,000 when Tom Brady was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone against the Giants.

He donated all that money to charity and told TMZ he plans to do the same this time. Rechnitz says he'll be giving his winnings to the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Stewart J. Rahr Foundation.

Here's Rechnitz's winning ticket: