Chicago Retiree Hits $1 Million on $10 Scratch-Off Ticket
Retired Chicago Man Scores $1 Million Win on $10 Scratch-Off
Talk about a lucky break — a retired Chicago man, affectionately known as “Papa,” just hit a $1 million jackpot on a $10 Jumbo Bucks scratch-off ticket.
He bought the winning ticket at P&S Liquor on Chicago’s Northwest Side and didn’t realize his fortune until he scanned it at the store. “When the prize popped up on the screen, I turned as white as a ghost!” he said, recalling how he tucked the ticket into his coat and bolted home to tell his wife.
At first, she didn’t believe him. “She just stared at me and said, ‘What? Are you sure?’” Papa laughed.
What’s Next for the Lucky Couple
Instead of splurging, the couple’s plans are pure heart:
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Start college funds for their four grandchildren.
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Take a long-awaited trip to Europe, exploring their Irish and Italian roots.
“We’ve always put family first, and that won’t change,” he said proudly.
The Odds and the Payout
Winning that kind of prize is no small feat — odds of snagging $1 million in the Jumbo Bucks game are less than one in a million. Most players walk away with just $10 to $50.
Papa can choose between $50,000 a year for 20 years or a one-time lump sum of $600,000. Either way, that $10 ticket turned into a life-changing win — and one very happy Chicago family.
