unilad homepage
  • News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Man stunned after finding winning $200,000 lottery jackpot ticket stuffed in his wallet

Home> News

Published 15:57 25 Jun 2023 GMT+1

Man stunned after finding winning $200,000 lottery jackpot ticket stuffed in his wallet

Yandiel Cruz-Chavez, from Wyoming in Michigan, couldn't believe it when he matched all five numbers on the lottery

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Michigan Lottery / Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: US News, Money, Good News

Emma Rosemurgey
Emma Rosemurgey

Advert

Advert

Advert

Let's be real, most of us have daydreamed about winning the lottery. Not even necessarily a huge amount, but even a little nest egg that allowed us to pay off the mortgage would be nice.

Now, imagine you actually had won the lottery, but you were just wandering around, living your life as normal, with no idea you were secretly rich. One can dream.

That's exactly what happened to one man - well for a week at least - after he won the Fantasy 5 jackpot with a lottery ticket that was crumpled up in the bottom of his wallet.

Yandiel Cruz-Chavez hit the jackpot.
Michigan Lottery

Advert

Yep, one Michigan man is living out our wildest dreams after winning almost $200,000 on a lottery ticket he forgot he had even purchased.

Yandiel Cruz-Chavez, from Wyoming, spent just $1 on a Fantasy 5 lottery ticket last month, before crumpling it up in his wallet and forgetting all about it - as many of us do.

But unbeknown to him, the 31-year-old had actually purchased the winning ticket, matching all five numbers, bagging him the jackpot - and the best part is, he was blissfully unaware for an entire week.

He says the money is a blessing to his family.
Yandie Cruz-Chavez / Facebook

According to the MailOnline, Cruz-Chavez told lottery officials: "I bought a Fantasy 5 ticket and forgot I had it in my wallet until a week after the drawing.

"I checked the ticket at the store and got a message to file a claim, so I looked up the winning numbers online. When I realised I'd won the jackpot, I was in disbelief at first."

After putting in a claim, Cruz-Chavez discovered that not only had he won a prize, he'd actually won an eye-watering $199,407.

He said: "Once it sunk in that I had really won, I was overcome with excitement and called everyone in my family to tell them the good news.

"The prize came at the perfect time and is a huge blessing to me and my family."

Yandiel Cruz-Chavez / Facebook

But how would you spend that kind of cash? Go on lots of fancy holidays? Buy a snazzy new car? Pay off your mortgage?

Well, Cruz-Chavez is a rather modest man and says he plans to save most of the cash, as well as investing in some home improvements.

What a sensible, sensible man - although we'd suggest you've got to throw at least one fancy holiday in there for good measure.

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • (Getty Stock)
    an hour ago

    Three simplest TSA hacks which will help travelers survive airport chaos

    Hours-long queues have been reported due to the partial government shutdown

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    an hour ago

    Scientists tested people using AI as their therapist with disturbing results

    Using artificial intelligence for mental health counseling might be cheaper than going to a therapist, but it might be making things worse

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    2 hours ago

    How long you can keep leftover food and which are most 'high risk'

    An expert says you should think twice before tucking into four specific leftovers

    News
  • Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Groundbreaking new study finds vaping likely causes cancer as experts issue warning

    The authors of the study have urged vapers to remember the dangers of the habit

    News
  • Couple win $13,000,000 lottery after finding winning ticket on top of their fridge a week later
  • Why five US states don't sell lottery tickets as Powerball reaches $1,000,000,000 jackpot
  • What happens if no one claims lottery winnings as Powerball nears $1,000,000,000 jackpot
  • Homeless man shocked to learn he won $1,000,000 lottery reveals what he's going to buy first