A LOTTERY player who landed a multi-million dollar payday has claimed they knew the win would happen.
Despite buying Powerball tickets for years and feeling indifferent, their selection a few months ago left them feeling certain.
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The big winner, Misael Cruz, told California Lottery officials that it was all thanks to quick well-wishes from the store clerk who sold him the ticket, per a press release.
“I kind of had a feeling that day I bought my tickets,” Cruz told officials of the supposed sixth sense he experienced.
“The clerk wished me good luck.”
Something clicked for Cruz after that, and the good feeling he’d beat insurmountable odds lasted for days.
“When I was walking out the door, I said to myself, ‘What if I win?'” the player recalled.
Cruz noted that he regularly buys lottery tickets, so the feeling that the ticket for the January 30, 2023 Powerball drawing was special meant something different.
Still, like with any other slip he purchases, Cruz said he was going to let it sit without checking the numbers for a few weeks, but a text from his son got him to look closer.
Cruz had purchased the ticket at an ARCO gas station in Fontana, about 13 miles west of downtown San Bernardino, and his son spotted that someone had won big on the news.
“He said, ‘Dad don’t you buy your lottery tickets at that gas station in Fontana?'” Cruz said of their conversation.
“I looked online and then my heart started beating fast.”
HELPING HAND
After checking the numbers three times over, Cruz confirmed his sixth sense was right, and he’d matched all five white balls, narrowly missing the Powerball for what would’ve been a $600 million jackpot.
Instead, he landed a $4 million payday, life-changing either way.
Cruz told lottery officials after the win that he also knew why the odds favored him for the drawing — his dedication to the community.
“I know exactly why I won — exactly why — I help a lot of people and I never expect anything in return,” he said.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
“It’s what I teach my children.”
Cruz added that he would “keep helping people” after the win and that no matter what it would “not change” who he is.
CASH COMPLICATIONS
Other lottery players who won the same amount or even larger jackpots saw a couple of decisions lead to a downfall after their wins.
A $314 million Powerball winner regretted their win in 2002, claiming it ruined their life years afterward.
Edwin Castro, who won the biggest lottery jackpot in United States history at $2.04 billion, has also gone through significant legal struggles with Jose Rivera, who claimed he won the ticket instead.
A man who won $180 million also lost over $20 million due to financial management issues and spent five years in court.
