BENSENVILLE, Ill. – An Illinois family scored a million-dollar Powerball win after making a spur-of-the-moment stop to buy a ticket while washing their car in Bensenville, lottery officials said.
What we know:
The family, who claimed the prize under the name Malongo to stay anonymous, matched all five numbers — 7, 14, 23, 24 and 60 — in the Aug. 9 drawing, winning $1 million plus an extra $4 for matching the Powerball.
They bought the ticket at the Exxon Mobil station, 1156 South York Road, which will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The father said he chose to play Powerball “for the most money” and instantly recognized the winning numbers when he checked them.
What they’re saying:
He explained that the million-dollar prize will help pay for his three adult children’s education and fund a family trip to Disney World.
“When I checked the numbers, it sank in immediately that I had won,” the father told the Illinois Lottery. “I felt relieved, but my wife — she thought I was lying. Then she said, ‘We’re going to Disney World!’”
Powerball drawings take place Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights, with tickets costing $2 each.
Leave a Reply