No one likes being called to work on their day off. Heck, movie director Kevin Smith made an entire movie series based on that premise.
But for a Los Angeles County Walmart employee, a last-minute phone call would ultimately change her life for the better.
It was Labor Day, and like most people lucky enough to get free federal leave, Rebecca Gonzalez was looking forward to spending time with her loved ones.
“We were going to have a barbecue, so of course I wanted to be home with my family,” Gonzalez told the California Lottery.
But those plans were dashed when her employer asked her to come in and work, and she reluctantly agreed.
Gonzalez said the entire shortened three-hour shift was busy. Due to her busy schedule, she forgot to buy a lottery ticket during her planned break.
After finally finishing work for the day, no doubt anxious to return to the comfort of her home and the promise of barbecue, she passed by a line of California Lottery vending machines that sparked her memory. .
“I didn’t remember I was going to buy Scratchers.” [ticket] “Until I went out at night and walked past the machines,” she said.
This image provided by the California Lottery shows the Single Double Triple Scratcher game.
She stopped, put in $10, and received a single double triple scratcher game. With overwhelming odds in her favor (2,057,388 to 1 to be exact), that $10 investment earned her $1 million in game winnings.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Gonzalez said.
Thanks to the jackpot, Gonzalez was able to pay off all her debts and told the California Lottery that she and her husband are in the process of building a new home.
Despite the life-changing event, Gonzalez is still going to work at the City of Industry Walmart as usual, and has no plans to ride off into the sunset anytime soon.
In fact, until now she has largely kept her good fortune a secret from her colleagues.
“I’ve only told one person at work, and it was my manager who asked me to stay late on my day off,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he was equally shocked.
The Walmart where Gonzalez works received a $5,000 payment from the state lottery for selling the winning ticket, officials said.
Gonzalez wasn’t the only person to win big in the California lottery recently.
Three players also won the jackpot playing the $1 million Ultimate Cash Scratchers game. Wayne Sims bought his ticket in San Francisco. Alex Vera bought his ticket at Circus Liquors in North Hollywood, and Robert Bifriends bought his winning ticket at Palma Liquors on La Palma Island.
A man who didn’t attend the OC Fair joined the next day and won $1 million.
A $1 million Multiplier Craze Scratchers ticket was also sold to R. Abrahamian at a 7-Eleven in Burbank.
Sometimes being in the right place at the right time can be beneficial, even if you shouldn’t be there.
Click here to learn more about the California Lottery, its games, and how to play it.
Source link
