Imagine turning a single dollar into a multimillion-dollar payday. That’s exactly what happened to Andrea Willer, a California woman who’s now living every lottery player’s dream.
On Thursday, June 26, the California Lottery announced that Willer hit the jackpot with a SuperLotto Plus ticket worth an incredible $30 million — and it only cost her $1 to play.
Willer, who bought her lucky ticket at a 76 Gas Station off Highway 101 in Cotati, matched all six winning numbers: 3, 13, 17, 23, 35, and the Mega number 24. That tiny slip of paper made her the sole grand prize winner of the drawing held back in March.
Rather than take the full amount over time, she opted for the cash payout — and after federal taxes, she still walked away with more than $14 million in cold, hard winnings.
The gas station that sold the winning ticket will also get a nice payday: a $150,000 bonus just for being the lucky retailer.
Under the California Lottery’s rules, jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. Willer’s deadline was September 1, but thankfully, she stepped forward in time to collect her millions.
As per policy, the California Lottery doesn’t reveal a winner’s name until they’ve been vetted, verified by law enforcement, and officially paid out — which is why Andrea Willer’s big win is only just now making headlines.
And for those who didn’t win this time around, there’s still hope. Thanks to the 2nd Chance program, even non-winning tickets can score big money.
That’s what happened to Donald Breck, Jr., another California resident who recently snagged $30,000 in a 2nd Chance drawing. “I logged into my Lottery account and saw that I was a winner and I was like, ‘This is pretty exciting!’” he said.
Donald says he plans to put the unexpected cash to good use — starting with paying off a couple of credit cards and fixing things around the house.
He also gave a shoutout to the lottery for supporting a bigger cause: California public schools. “I think it’s working well,” he added.
So, next time you’re filling your tank or grabbing a coffee, that $1 lottery ticket just might be your ticket to a new life — or at least a great story to tell.
