To date, 25 Illinois Lottery players have struck gold on scratch-off tickets worth $1 million or more — now there’s a new name on the list. What started as a quick errand on a run for a simple craving for soda turned into a life-changing $1 million fortune.
“I was in total shock — my wife didn’t believe me at all,” said the newest Illinois millionaire, who nicknamed himself the ‘Fateful 56’. The lucky winner got the top prize on a $10 scratch-off lottery ticket, Jumbo Bucks.
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“My wife wanted a soda, so I ran out to a nearby gas station. At the checkout, I decided to pick up a couple of scratch-off tickets, too,” the winner stated.
‘Fateful 56’ bought the winning ticket at the Shell gas station at 2474 N. Thatcher Avenue in River Grove, near downtown Chicago, Illinois Lottery reports. For selling the winning ticket, the Shell gas station will get one percent of the prize amount, a $10,000 bonus.
“When I scratched the ticket at home and realized I’d won a million dollars, I was in total shock — I had to scan the ticket on my app to prove it, and even then, she (his wife) still thought I was playing a prank on her,” said ‘Fateful 56,’ about realizing he hit the jackpot.
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“Of course this is amazing, but it’s also hard to wrap your head around. We’ve never known anyone who’s won a prize this big, so you start to think, maybe this doesn’t actually happen—but we are now proof that it really does! We feel incredibly lucky, grateful, and honestly still surprised,” the winner’s wife said.
The nickname, ‘Fateful 56,’ has meaning to the winner — “The winning number on the ticket was 56 — and I’m 56 years old! I guess you could say I’m his lucky charm,” the winner’s wife mentioned.
The lucky number didn’t stop there — after the winner texted one of his closest friends to let him know about the exciting news, his best friend responded with a picture of his motorcycle, whose license plate read 56.
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“I actually picked the ticket because I saw the name ‘Bucks’ on it. I’m a hunter, and I thought it was a hunting-themed ticket—turned out, I was wrong,” the winner laughed.
If you’re concerned about your gambling, call the toll-free 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) helpline for support. The helpline is a 24/7/365 service that connects you to information, counseling, and support. For more information, visit the responsible gaming pages on the Illinois Lottery website: Illinois Lottery Responsible Gaming.
May 19, 2025
Reporter
Crystal Huggins is a 2023 graduate of Delta College with an associate’s degree in electronic media broadcasting. During her time at Delta, she gained hands-on experience in media production and was recognized for her academic achievements, earning multiple honors. She has worked as a news producer and anchor for NEWSnet, where she delivered daily broadcasts for audiences in Hawaii, Northern Michigan, and Los Angeles. She also has experience in radio broadcasting, having served as a morning show producer and on-air personality for MacDonald Broadcasting. A mid-Michigan resident, Crystal is passionate about storytelling, multimedia content creation, and engaging audiences through digital and social media platforms.