It was a Hanukkah miracle!
Long Island mom Yuliya Lankri said her husband's holiday gift of a New York Lottery scratch-off ticket will pay $1 million a year for life — with a guarantee of at least $20 million.
"Miracles happen, and they happen on Hanukkah, and I believe in that," beamed Lankri, 37, of Valley Stream, at a press conference called by the state Lottery Commission in late January.
The stay-at-home housewife and mother of three said her husband, Gabriel, 46, bought the $30 "Win $1,000,000 a Year For Life" ticket on Dec. 21 at a Queens Village store.
"It's all yours, baby," he told her when he got home.
Yuliya, who immigrated to America from Russia two decades ago, used a penny to scratch off the ticket and realized, to her amazement, she'd won an annual check of $661,800 after taxes.
"I didn't believe it. I just said, 'It's impossible,' and I said we would go in tomorrow and see.
"But my husband said, 'No, no no. We're going in today. It's real, baby,' " she said.
When they found out he was right, Gabriel tried to insist the prize was all hers, "but I said, 'No, no. It's ours,' " she said.
She said she and her husband "have been happily married for 19 years," and the first thing the money will buy them is a romantic weekend in Paris this spring without the kids.
It also will pay for college for the kids, two girls, ages 16 and 14, and a 4-year-old boy, and "maybe one day, we'll get a new house."
Once she heard about the windfall, their older daughter asked for a Mercedes. Her youngest just wants Transformers toys.
"The 14-year-old, she doesn't care. She said, 'Don't worry, this [first] million dollars is going to go so fast and you'll have nothing left,' " her mom said.
Very happy for this deserving couple! Congratulations.
Now if they only sold ticket's like that in my neck of the woods.
Great and wonderfull story .. good way to start the morning ..god bless and congrats to her .... miricale happends to those who believe in it ...long island yes baby keep it coming down to the east end ...
Nice!
My Greatgrandpap came to America with 1 piece of luggage and a dream ............
Was the dream about winning the lottery?
"The 14-year-old, she doesn't care. She said, 'Don't worry, this [first] million dollars is going to go so fast and you'll have nothing left,' " her mom said.
Smart kid.
What a great Win for someone that seems that they will actually enloy it. Would hate to see some 80+ yr old win this kind of prize
Congrats to the lucky lady!
For Life
That makes no sense, since several folks are living (usually uncomfortably) to 100 years old these days, AND these annuities are all transferable to an heir(s) upon one's death!
Congratulations Yuliya, your husband sure has powerful 'picking power,' doesn't he?
With sharing amongst themselves, now the Lankri Family will be able to afford a more comfortable lifestyle for the rest of their lifetime.
Why wouldn't an 80+ year old enjoy it?
Great story and I'm glad for them.
One thing I wonder about though is how they can call it "For Life" when it's only for 20 years.
A lot of games say that.
What happened to truth in advertising?
Not in 1894!