Traditionally, couples aren’t supposed to exchange gold and diamond anniversary gifts until they have been married for 50 or 60 years. But one young couple from Michigan jumped the gun and it worked out in their favor. The couple, who’ve decided to remain anonymous, purchased a Gold and Diamonds lottery ticket from a Mobil gas station to celebrate another year of their marriage, and the gas station grab ended up changing not only the course of their marriage, but their entire lives. The ticket was a winner worth $2 million.
The husband noticed the $2 million prize first.
The wife, 44, told the Michigan Lottery that she and her husband enjoy scratch-off games, especially the Diamonds and Gold Game, The Detroit Free Press reports. The $20 ticket has several ways to win, with 1 in 3.64 overall odds, according to the game’s website.
“We scratched this ticket off together on our wedding anniversary and my husband noticed the $2 million prize first,” she explained. “He thought something wasn’t right, so we took it to the store to scan it.”
They confirmed it with a friend’s app.
The scanner instructed the couple to file a claim at the lottery office. Afterward, they reached out to a friend to have her scan it on her lottery app. The app confirmed it. “I started shaking and was in total shock when $2 million came up on the screen,” the woman said. “It was so exciting and the best surprise on our anniversary!”
The couple will receive $1.3 million.
The wife claimed the prize and opted for a one-time payout of $1.3 million. Receiving annuity payments over time would have granted the couple access to the full $2 million prize. The couple said they plan to use the money to buy a house, make some investments and set aside some for their children’s college funds.
Now their anniversary also marks the day they became millionaires.
“Congratulations to the lucky player and her husband who had a day they will never forget after winning $2 million on their wedding anniversary,” Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said according to UPI. “It is great to hear that the prize will also have a positive impact on their children by helping fund their future education.” One $2 million prize remains in the Diamonds and Gold game.
