She was at home eating chocolate and listening to Pink Floyd's Money. Then a scratcher made her a millionaire
'I was planning on playing a different scratch-off game,' the winner, who chose not to be identified but went by the nickname Wishing Fish, told Illinois Lottery officials. 'But as I looked over the other options, this ticket stood out. It was as if my vision blocked out all the other tickets – this one was meant to be.'
Wishing Fish bought her lucky ticket, Ultimate Bonus Payout, at a Jewel-Osco supermarket in Cary, about 45 miles northwest of Chicago, lottery officials said.
The new millionaire recalled the moment she finished her scratch-off and realized she won big.
'I was at home eating a chocolate bar with the song 'Money' by Pink Floyd playing in the background. I scratched the last symbol and immediately FaceTimed my son, repeating over and over, 'I'm going to have a heart attack – I just won $1 million!'' she said.
With her good fortune, Wishing Fish says she hopes to help some of her loved ones – and take a nice trip.
'I plan to share the winnings with about 15 family members, with my three kids – who are now grown – getting the biggest share. I'm also helping a close friend with four children get settled into an apartment,' she said.
She added: 'I want to buy a car with a sunroof and take a vacation somewhere in the Keys with my husband, where I can swim with dolphins – just a few things on my bucket list.'
Her win marked the 35th scratch-off prize worth $1 million or more won by an Illinois Lottery player this year, according to lottery officials.
More than 35 million winning scratch-offs have been sold across the state so far this year, and have awarded more than $937 million in prizes.
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