A normal day in California is perfect for a pizza, but when you least expect it, something can happen that changes your life completely. In this story, after simply going to buy a pizza, the life of Mc Kinley Nelson, an American retired veteran, took a one hundred and eighty degree turn. But what happened? In the purchase of the pizza, right after, he acquired a California Lottery ticket when he was looking for change in his wallet to leave a tip, what he didn’t know is that this ticket had a prize.
The winning ticket was for one million dollars, which is obtained in a state lottery. This fact exposes how in the United States, in a thing that enters within the normality, can make your life change completely.
The prize and the money involved has resulted in him being able to save some debts, save and even travel as he has always dreamed to make the plans he has always wanted. Read on to find out how it all came about as a result of simply buying a pizza.
Deciding pizza and burger for lunch
When deciding between pizza or a burger for lunch, one California family might tell you to choose pizza.
Northern California man McKinley Nelson, 72, and his wife’s craving for the beloved Italian dish paid off massively, with their visit leading them to a $1 million prize, according to the California Lottery.
The Yolo County couple visited a Wine & Liquor store, which shares its building with Round Table Pizza, in the city of Winters, located about 40 miles west of Sacramento. Needing some change to tip service, Nelson broke a $100 bill by purchasing two lottery tickets.
“I think it was $20, and I went to the truck and started scratching,” Nelson told lottery officials in a news release.
The retired veteran said he recalls telling his wife: “I think this one’s a million, but I’m not sure.”
The pair proceeded to check their winning ticket through the California Lottery app, which verified he has scored a jackpot prize.
“My wife almost had a heart attack”
The pair were in near complete disbelief that their decision to tip became incredibly and instantly profitable.
“So, my wife almost had a heart attack,” Nelson said. “And then we had to go in and buy the pizza. It was all because of her, she’s the one that likes the pizza.”
McKinley said he has played the California Lottery for 40 years, the news release stated.
“It took a long time to win,” he quipped.
With the money, Nelson said he will pay off his home, save a portion of it and also purchase a camper van, according to the California Lottery. With their new recreational vehicle, they plan drive to visit McKinley’s family and even further to see his wife’s family.
Luck is waiting for you
Thomas’ case is reminiscent of other lottery winners who found fortune when they least expected it. A good example is that of Kevin Francis, a 62-year-old handyman who was not exactly a gambling enthusiast, but decided to buy some tickets at his wife’s insistence.
The lottery tip paid off: Kevin spent about 11 euros on two scratch cards and won a million pounds, more than 1.1 million euros, thanks to one of the jackpots. From that day on, he admits that he decided to pay more attention to his wife’s requests instead of making bad faces.
A different case is that of Kwame Cross, a small businessman from Washington who had a hunch that certain numbers were going to be drawn. So he decided to make the same combination 160 times to pick the numbers 7134 and play Pick-4, a type of lottery that is very popular in some U.S. states.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.