NATIONAL NEWS

Woman put a lottery ticket in her purse and forgot about it. She ended up winning $1 million

Nov 10, 2024, 9:45 PM

An Illinois woman is $1 million richer after winning on a lottery ticket she forgot about. (Illinoi...

An Illinois woman is $1 million richer after winning on a lottery ticket she forgot about. (Illinois Lottery/File via CNN Newsource)

(Illinois Lottery/File via CNN Newsource)

(CNN) — An Illinois woman is $1 million richer after winning on a lottery ticket she forgot about.

During a grocery trip to the Jewel-Osco supermarket in Elmhurst in October, she made the last-minute decision to pick up a lottery ticket for the Lucky Day Lotto, a daily draw game in Illinois. The ticket was set for an evening drawing on October 20.

Her ticketing purchase was not only unplanned, but also eventually forgotten about, she said in an Illinois Lottery press release, requesting to remain anonymous.

“While on my way to visit my aunt, I made a quick stop at Jewel to pick up a few groceries, and before heading out the door, I grabbed a quick pick Lucky Day Lotto ticket,” she said. “I actually put the ticket in my purse and forgot all about it.”

Unaware at the time

On Oct. 20, the game announcers revealed the five winning numbers: 2-3-24-25-28. The woman’s ticket matched all five – but she didn’t know it at the time.

“A couple days after the drawing, I saw the ticket in my purse and opened my lottery app to scan my ticket and check if it was a winner. I immediately saw “$1,000,000” on the screen and I was in total shock,” she said. “I scanned the ticket one more time to double-check, and when it showed “$1,000,000” again, I instantly started crying.”

The woman said the winnings will allow her to travel more.

“What I’m most excited about is being able to afford annual trips to my favorite place in the whole world: Ireland,” the winner said. “The landscape is stunning and I’m thrilled that I can now look forward to these trips every year.”

According to Lottery USA, the odds of winning the jackpot for Lucky Day Lotto are 1 in 1.22 million.

The lucky winner is the ninth Illinois Lottery player this year to win $1 million or more with Lucky Day Lotto.

KSL 5 TV Live

National News

Photo shows wreckage of Alaska plane crash....

Karina Tsui, CNN

All 10 victims of the fatal Alaska plane crash have been recovered, officials say

All 10 victims of the fatal Alaska plane crash off the coast of western Alaska have been recovered, authorities said Saturday.

15 hours ago

An aerial overall exterior general view of Caesars Superdome, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans...

Associated Press

Super Bowl 2025: Time, channel, halftime show, how to watch Chiefs vs. Eagles livestream

Super Bowl weekend has arrived. The Kansas City Chiefs will go for a historic three-peat in the NFL's title game on Sunday in New Orleans, while the Philadelphia Eagles are the only remaining team that can stop them.

17 hours ago

FILE -  Chicago Bears coach Dick Jauron calls out to his team while observing offensive drills in m...

Dave Skretta, AP Sports Writer

Longtime NFL player and coach Dick Jauron dies at 74

Longtime NFL player and coach Dick Jauron, who led the Chicago Bears to the playoffs and was voted AP coach of the year in 2001, died Saturday. He was 74.

19 hours ago

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO ...

Jim Morris, Associated Press

Justin Trudeau reportedly says Trump’s talk of making Canada a US state is ‘a real thing’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.

2 days ago

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO ...

Anthony Izaguirre associated press

19 states sue to stop DOGE from accessing Americans’ personal data

Nineteen Democratic attorneys general have sued President Donald Trump to stop Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records.

2 days ago

This photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, shows a small commuter plane t...

Becky Bohrer and Hallie Golden, Associated Press

Missing commuter plane found crashed on Alaska sea ice and all 10 aboard died, authorities say

A small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska on its way to the hub community of Nome was located Friday on sea ice, and all 10 people on board died, authorities said.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Woman put a lottery ticket in her purse and forgot about it. She ended up winning $1 million