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For a man visiting his usual convenience store, his daily work break quickly became a million-dollar central memory.
Earlier this month, an Illinois resident won the top prize of $1 million in a $50 lottery ticket at a Mobil gas station in the Chicago suburb of Lombard, according to an Illinois Lottery news release. The winning prize was claimed on April 10, Lottery spokeswoman Jennifer in Bourne, Illinois, told USA TODAY.
The winner said, “I scratched off the ticket during my break at work and won beautifully.” The man, who asked to remain anonymous and went by the name “Lucky,” initially bought one ticket that didn’t win, then bought another ticket and hit the jackpot.
“I just celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago, so this win feels like the perfect gift,” the winner told the Illinois Lottery. “I plan to invest in my family’s future, buy a new house, and refurbish my wardrobe. I also plan to donate a portion to a local hospital.”
In Illinois, anyone who wins a lottery prize of $250,000 or more can request that their name and municipality of residence be kept confidential, according to the Illinois Lottery.
It’s not the first time we’ve been “lucky”; the gas station that sold the ticket was also lucky.
This victory is his biggest yet, but it’s not Lucky’s first. He said he has won about 20 other times in the Illinois Lottery, with prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
“Lucky” told the Illinois Lottery that he visits the mobile gas station where he bought his winning ticket multiple times a week and is good friends with the staff.
“When I bought the ticket, I told them I was going to come back with a bunch of zeros. I can’t believe that actually happened,” he said.
Lucky Mobil gas stations who purchase tickets will receive a $10,000 retail bonus, according to an Illinois Lottery news release.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
