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A WALMART employee got lucky when she won a million-dollar 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 by the store’s California Lottery vending machine while leaving her shift.
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Rebecca Gonzalez wasn’t initially scheduled to work on Labor Day at Walmart in the City of Industry, which is about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, but she got a last-minute call from the store.
She reluctantly agreed to work a short shift on her day off, she told the California Lottery.
“It was Labor Day and they only needed me for three hours,” Gonzalez said.
“I wanted to obviously be home with my family because we planned to barbecue.”
READ MORE ON LOTTERY WINNERS
Despite working three hours on what was supposed to be her vacation, Gonzalez decided to make the best of it by buying a lottery ticket during her shift.
She originally planned to buy a Single Double Triple Scratchers game from the vending machine on her break but forgot about it during the busy work day.
“I didn’t remember I was going to buy a Scratchers
until I left for the night and passed by the machines,” Gonzalez
told the lottery with a laugh.
Her $10 lottery ticket made her an instant millionaire, winning the top prize.
“I couldn’t believe it!” Gonzalez said.
The Walmart will get a $5,000 bonus for selling Gonzalez her ticket.
Over 200 Walmart Supercenters in California have lottery machines, lottery officials said.
Gonzalez said she paid off her debt with the million dollars and is closing on a home with her husband.
Despite the extra cash, she plans to keep her job at Walmart.
“I’ve only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on a holiday,” Gonzalez told the lottery.
“He couldn’t believe it.”
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.
Four other California lottery players have also hit big in the past few months by playing with scratch-off tickets, lottery officials revealed.
Wayne Sims bought his $1M Ultimate Cash game at Pearl Market in San Francisco.
Two winners bought their winning tickets at liquor stores: Alex Vela from Circus Liquors in North Hollywood and Robert Befriends from Plma Liquor in La Palma.
R. Abrahamian won a Multiplier Craze Scratchers game after buying it at a 7-11 in Burbank.
Meanwhile, a Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $489 million after months of no one winning the huge prize.
While no one has won the massive sum, other players have been lucky enough to take the $1 million prizes along the way.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
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