Illinois player turns $30 King of Cash ticket into $3m payday

The Illinois Lottery has boasted another major win with an anonymous player flipping a $30 King of Cash ticket into an eye-water $3m payday, the lottery shared in a press release.

The unnamed man was caught holding up a huge cash check during a photo-op that the Illinois Lottery shared readily with the public, reminding about the life-transformative qualities of its draws.

Not much else is known about the player per se, although the lottery did share a few details. For starters, the winner got his check in July 2024, and the ticket itself was bought at Bellwood Liquor and Grocery at 5001 St. Charles Road in Bellwood – expect an uptick in lottery sales at the venue moving forward!

The anonymous lucky devil said that he couldn’t believe what was happening at first – thinking that he had misread his ticket.

"It was so shocking. My heart was pounding and I immediately started to sweat. I couldn’t believe it," he professed and told the lottery that he was incredulous for hours after about what had happened.

The elation was so strong that the man, who drove a truck, forgot it in the parking lot and headed straight home on foot before he realized. The winner also has plans about what is coming next – cars! His wife and son both need or want a new car, and he is going to get them just that.

Besides, there is the mortgage to take care of, which the person is going to do as soon as he grabs the money. No further details about how the man claimed the jackpot were available.

Illinois has been quite busy in dealing out eye-watering awards with previously a lucky player buying a winning ticket from Foodsmart, a family-owned grocery story, and winning $2m.

As the King of Cash would put it – lottery prizes for everybody!

Image credit: Illinois Lottery