Rhode Island Woman Keeps $4 Million Lottery Prize After Supreme Court Ruling

A Rhode Island woman can officially keep her $4 million scratch-off lottery prize after the state Supreme Court rejected her former husband's attempt to reopen their divorce case.

In a June 30, 2026, decision, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ana Varela, confirming that her lottery winnings were not marital property because she purchased the winning ticket after her divorce was legally finalized.

How the Divorce Led to a Lottery Dispute

Ana Varela and Daniel M. Monteiro married on November 23, 2007, but separated in 2012 when Monteiro moved out of their home and relocated to Massachusetts.

Varela filed for divorce on February 21, 2020, citing more than three years of separation. Both appeared remotely at an uncontested divorce hearing on June 8, 2020, without legal representation.

The couple had already settled their financial matters, divided their personal belongings, and agreed to waive alimony. They also had no jointly owned real estate or shared debts.

Their divorce judgment was officially entered on October 8, 2020.

A $4 Million Lottery Win Changes Everything

Just weeks after the divorce became final, Varela purchased a winning scratch-off ticket between October 29 and October 31, 2020. She cashed it on November 4.

Although the advertised prize was $4 million, she selected a lump-sum payment of $2.6 million before deductions. After taxes, she received $1,846,000.

Monteiro later challenged her winnings, arguing that the ticket should be considered marital property and that he was entitled to a share.

On September 16, 2021, he asked the Family Court to overturn their divorce judgment. He initially alleged that the lottery ticket had not been disclosed during the divorce proceedings and questioned whether the required legal waiting period had been followed.

A Mistake in the Divorce Paperwork

The case also revealed a procedural error by the Family Court.

Under Rhode Island law, divorces based on at least three years of separation require a decision pending final judgment, followed by a 20-day waiting period before the final judgment can be entered.

However, in Varela's case, both documents were entered on October 8, 2020, without the required gap.

In January 2023, the Family Court's general magistrate acknowledged the mistake, describing it as an administrative error during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the magistrate agreed that the divorce judgment was not void, Monteiro was initially given an opportunity to pursue a share of the lottery winnings.

Varela challenged that decision, maintaining that a paperwork error should not affect her divorce or ownership of the prize.

In June 2023, a Family Court hearing justice ruled in her favor, finding that the court had proper jurisdiction and that the procedural mistake had not violated Monteiro's due process rights.

Supreme Court Delivers the Final Decision

The Rhode Island Supreme Court ultimately upheld the decision in Varela's favor.

The justices explained that a procedural mistake does not automatically make a court judgment invalid. Generally, a judgment can be overturned on such grounds only when the court lacks jurisdiction or violates due process through an unlawful exercise of authority.

The court confirmed that the Family Court had the legal authority to finalize the couple's divorce. Although entering both documents on the same day violated the required waiting period, it was considered a procedural error rather than a jurisdictional failure.

Most importantly, the winning ticket was purchased after the October 8 divorce judgment.

The final outcome: Varela keeps her $4 million lottery prize, and her former husband cannot reopen the divorce to claim a share of the winnings.