A Walmart employee was lucky when she won a $1 million lottery ticket after her holiday shift — and she wasn't even supposed to be working that day.
The retail worker was in the right place at the right time when she stopped at the store's California Lottery vending machine while leaving her shift.
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Rebecca Gonzalez wasn't initially scheduled to work Labor Day at Walmart in Industry City, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, but she got a last-minute call from the store.
She told the California Lottery that she reluctantly agreed to work for a short period on her day off.
“It was Labor Day and they only needed me for three hours,” Gonzalez said.
“Obviously I wanted to be home with my family because we planned a barbecue.”
Read more about lottery winners
Despite working three hours on what was supposed to be her vacation, Gonzalez decided to make the best of it by purchasing a lottery ticket during her shift.
She originally planned to buy Single Double Triple Scratchers from the vending machine during her break but forgot about it during the busy work day.
“I didn't remember I was going to buy Scratchers
Until I left at night and passed the machines,” Gonzalez said
Lottery said, laughing.
The $10 lottery ticket made her an instant millionaire, and she won the jackpot.
“I couldn't believe it!” Gonzalez said.
Walmart will receive a $5,000 reward for selling Gonzalez's ticket.
More than 200 Walmart Supercenters in California have lottery machines, lottery officials said.
Gonzalez said she has paid off her $1 million in debt and is closing on a house with her husband.
Despite the extra money, she plans to keep her job at Walmart.
“I only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on vacation,” Gonzalez told the Lottery.
“He couldn't believe it.”
Top lottery winners in usa
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in the history of the American lottery.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, November 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodoros Struyk – $1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta of Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016.
- Unknown Winner – $1.537 Billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown Winner – Sued Mother of His Child to Hide His Identity – $1.348 Billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown Winner – $1.337 Billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng, Duanbin Saifan and Lisa Lim Chow – $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, January 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown Winner – $842.4 million Powerball, January 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Four more California lottery players have had big success in the past few months by playing with scratched-off tickets, lottery officials revealed.
Wayne Sims bought his $1 million Ultimate Cash game at Pearl Market in San Francisco.
Two winners purchased winning tickets from liquor stores: Alex Vela of Circus Liquors in North Hollywood and Robert B. Friends of Plma Liquor in La Palma.
R. Abrahamian won Multiplier Craze Scratchers after buying it at 7-11 in Burbank.
Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot rose to $489 million after months of no one winning the mega prize.
While no one won that huge amount, there were other players lucky enough to bag $1 million in prizes along the way.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Sets time and financial limits before playing
- Only gamble with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- He does not gamble if he is upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling connected.
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