NEED TO KNOW
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A father’s car wash trip turned into a huge Powerball win
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The dad ended up winning a $1,000,004 prize, which he picked up from lottery officials alongside his wife and their three adult children
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“A few years from now, we hope we’re all less stressed and just happy,” the man said
A little trip to the car wash yielded a big lottery prize — and the winner’s wife immediately knew how she wanted to spend some of it!
A father of five from Chicago, who chose to remain anonymous, told Illinois Lottery officials that it all started when he went to get his car washed “and decided to play the lottery at a new place.”
There he decided to try his luck playing Powerball because he “wanted to play for the most money.”
The man ended up matching all five numbers in the Aug. 9 Powerball drawing (7-14-23-24-60), winning the $1 million prize as well as a bonus $4 for matching the Powerball.
Illinois Lottery
Family that won $1 million in the Illinois Lottery.
“When I checked the numbers, it sank in immediately that I had won,” the father told lottery officials. “I felt relieved, but my wife, she thought I was lying. Then she said, ‘We’re going to Disney World!’ ”
The whole family recently claimed the the $1,000,004 amount at the Illinois Lottery Headquarters under the collective name “Malongo” — and the five of them posed for a photo with their gigantic check.
In addition to fulfilling his wife’s wishes to go to the resort — “Disney World is officially on the itinerary,” the man said with a laugh — he said they plan on using the prize to help fund their children’s future education
Ultimately, they hope this unexpected prize will help take some of the weight off their shoulders.
“A few years from now, we hope we’re all less stressed and just happy,” he said.
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In addition to the family’s winnings, the Exxon Mobile that sold the winning ticket will receive a $10,000 bonus — 1% of the prize total.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or go to gamtalk.org.
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