Everyday errands can often feel monotonous. Whether pulling into a gas station to fill up the tank or stepping into a neighborhood market for quick weekend supplies, standard routines rarely feel like historic occasions. Yet every now and then, a simple detour or a spur-of-the-moment decision to play the California Lottery can turn a mundane errand into a multi-million-dollar milestone.
Two California players recently experienced that exact shift. For one player in the High Desert, matching five numbers in a nationwide draw turned a routine fill-up into windfall wealth.
For another in Long Beach, checking an instant Scratchers® ticket outside a local store delivered a life-changing shock. Both demonstrate that when fortune arrives, it often strikes in the middle of our most ordinary moments.
A desert stop that delivered over $7 million
For Susan Thede, a routine trip through Palmdale took an unexpected turn when she stopped at Alrabadi Gas & Mini Mart, located at 2680 E. Palmdale Blvd. While there, she decided to buy a Mega Millions® ticket for the upcoming draw.
When the winning numbers were drawn, Thede’s ticket matched all five winning white balls, missing only the Mega Ball. In many traditional games, missing the main jackpot number by a single digit can feel like an agonizing near-miss. But thanks to the Mega Millions’ payout structure, the prize amount for second place can in many cases still amount to enormous wealth. So, Thede’s second-place ticket was worth a staggering $7.3 million.
Matching five numbers allowed Thede to walk away with a multi-million-dollar prize, proving that in draw games like Mega Millions, taking second place can still deliver life-altering fortune.
When second place means multimillion-dollar wealth
Thede’s massive win highlights a unique aspect of playing draw games in California. While jackpot headlines usually capture the public’s imagination, second-place payouts in both Mega Millions® and Powerball® frequently yield enormous, multi-million-dollar prizes of their own.
Over the years, lottery players matching five numbers (missing only the Mega Ball or Powerball) have pocketed some of the largest non-jackpot prizes in national lottery history:
- Mega Millions ($7,727,088) – June 17, 2022
- Powerball ($7,660,254) – August 9, 2014
- Mega Millions ($7,326,643) – July 21, 2026 (Susan Thede’s win)
- Powerball ($7,054,356) – February 19, 2020
- Powerball ($6,021,023) – June 1, 2022
- Powerball ($5,717,713) – March 26, 2025
As these payout records demonstrate, missing out on the primary jackpot doesn’t mean missing out on millions.
From draw game patience to instant Scratchers® shock
While Susan Thede scored over $7 million by waiting for draw numbers to line up, another Southern California lottery player proved that instant Scratchers® games can deliver just as dramatic a surprise during a casual weekend stop.
Double-checking an instant win outside the market
Longtime California Lottery player Bernardo Escobedo was running a weekend errand when he stopped at LB City Market in Long Beach. Deciding to try his luck, he spent $10 on a $1,000,000 Money Mania Scratchers® ticket.
Escobedo walked outside the market to scratch his ticket and was stunned to see he had hit the top prize of $1,000,000. Having previously won smaller prizes ranging from $100 to $500, turning a modest $10 ticket into a million-dollar fortune seemed almost unbelievable.
Unable to trust his eyes right away, Escobedo immediately turned around and headed back into the store.
“Winning that kind of money from a $10 ticket is unbelievable,” he recounted. “I went back inside and scanned it again because I still couldn’t believe it.”
Looking ahead to his future after the sudden blessing, Escobedo shared a grounded and grateful perspective: “God will decide what comes next,” he said.
Everyday moments hold potential for wealth
The journeys of both lottery winners showcase how simple everyday detours can unlock life-changing rewards. Whether waiting on draw numbers at a desert gas station or double-checking an instant scratch-off ticket outside a city market, extraordinary luck often arrives when least expected.
Beyond the excitement of individual windfalls, every California Lottery ticket purchased plays a meaningful role in supporting local communities. Game sales generate critical supplemental funding for public education statewide, benefiting schools, teachers, and students in classrooms across California.