After a night out, Kentucky friends stop for gas and purchase $1M Mega Millions ticket
They didn’t net the whopping $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot, but a pair of Louisville friends did secure a $1 million-winning ticket playing Mega Millions last week.
The man and woman, who wish to remain anonymous, according to the Kentucky Lottery, have been friends since high school.
When their usual gas station was crowded after a night out, the pair stopped at the Five Star station on Cane Run Road in Louisville to fuel up, according to a Wednesday release from the lottery.
The woman used $5 from her friend to purchase two, $2 Mega Millions tickets with computer-generated numbers for the Jan. 13 drawing.
The winning numbers for the drawing were 30, 43, 45, 46, 61 and Mega Ball 14.
The pair had reason to be pleased when they checked their tickets Saturday. They matched all the numbers except the Mega Ball.
“I saw we matched the five numbers, but I wasn’t sure how much we had won,” the man said, according to Kentucky Lottery officials. “I called my friend, and as soon as I told her, she knew right away it was for a million dollars.”
The woman said she was in disbelief until her friend sent her a picture of the tickets.
“Everything that day came into place, timing was everything,” he said. “If we had stopped at the original store, who knows if we would have had those same numbers. It’s an absolute blessing.”
After taxes, Kentucky Lottery cut each winner a check for $357,500.
The man told lottery officials he was eyeing a car and home with his winnings, while the woman said she would be better prepared for retirement.
The Five Star will receive $10,000 for selling the ticket.
The Mega Millions Friday jackpot, one of the largest in U.S. history, was won by a single purchased in Maine.
If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
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This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 12:59 PM.