Couple finds winning $1.8M lottery ticket while cleaning house for Thanksgiving

Nov 23, 2018, 8:58 am (26 comments)

Louisiana Lottery

Claims prize two weeks before expiration

Harold and Tina Ehrenberg hit the jackpot — literally — as they tidied up their Mandeville, Louisiana, home this week while preparing to host a Thanksgiving crowd. On a nightstand in their bedroom, Tina stumbled upon a few forgotten lottery tickets — and one was a winning ticket that entitled them to a $1.8 million jackpot.

But that's not even the craziest part. It turns out the pair claimed the prize just in the nick of time. Winnings for draw-style lottery games like this one must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing, Kimberly Chopin, director of communications for the Lousiana Lottery, said. The winning ticket belonged to a June 6, 2018, drawing but wasn't claimed until Nov. 19. That left a mere two weeks until the window would close and the Ehrenbergs would lose their prize forever.

"I checked the numbers three times," Tina said. Then she recruited Harold to log onto the lottery's website and check while she read aloud the Lotto numbers they'd picked — 3, 7, 30, 31, 35, and 38 — just to make sure it wasn't her imagination. Then it dawned on the couple that they might have waited too long — and panic set in.

"It didn't click until we were actually at the lottery office, filling out paperwork," Tina said, describing the feeling as being in a daze. Then someone opened a door, flashed a big smile and said to the couple, 'Come on back!' — "and that's when we realized we had a winning ticket!" Tina said.

The Ehrenbergs have received $1,274,313 in a lump sum after state and federal tax withholding from the ticket they casually bought one summer day at International Market in Metairie, La. The store won too: Its owner received a one-time selling bonus of $17,948.07 — which is one percent of the prize, according to Chopin.

Chopin said that officials at the Lousiana Lottery "had been watching this one for a while, since it was a big jackpot." She said that luckily, it's not very often that a winner waits until the eleventh hour to come forward — and they shouldn't. "Keep your tickets and check them after every drawing," she urges, reminding players they might be entitled to smaller prizes too. She says the timing varies by state, but most lottery associations allow enough time to contact a CPA and understand tax implications before officially claiming a prize.

The Ehrenbergs don't plan on spending their newfound bounty on any extravagances, though. In fact, they don't plan on spending it at all. "It's already in our retirement account," the couple confirmed.

Tina said that friends and family have been wishing them well and sending congratulations on the win, which comes just in time for holiday celebrations. It's safe to say these two have a lot to be thankful for this year.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Yahoo, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

WOW good thing a Holiday came just in time to clean their house? LOL

Sorry, Yes had to 'go there!' ROFL

Had i known they had a winning ticket i would have gone and cleaned their house a long time ago!

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Whewwwwwwwwwwwww, that was close !  Congrats Harold and Tina... and in your retirement account as well...excellent choice... My money is on them being a bit more cautious with future ticket locations.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Thank You, Todd, Staff, and Yahoo for a feel-good story. 

 This is definitely a win for their retirement account. What a wonderful gift for themselves.

Noel

reddog's avatarreddog

Only thing I found while cleaning up for Thanksgiving get together was left over Halloween Reeces cups that I had put up so I wouldn't keep feeding my face. Great ! Unhappy

noise-gate

As President Reagan once said " Here we go again!"

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Good thing they found the ticket in time to cash it. I don't like hearing about those ticket that expire without being claimed.

I wonder if they will check their next tickets more closely.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

The correct quote from President Reagan is "There you go again."

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Nov 23, 2018

As President Reagan once said " Here we go again!"

Mamma Mia!

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Nov 23, 2018

Mamma Mia!

I misquoted Stack. That was President Abba. Good catch there bud.

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Am I the only one who wonders why she didn't clean her house for at least half a year?  Now she can afford a maid to do the heavy lifting.  LOL

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Maybe she works and her husband failed to clean the house.  But the article says they were tidying up for guests. This does not mean the house had not been cleaned in half a year. We all have a junk drawer, etc. and we all go to extra efforts for guests during the holidays.

They also appear to me to be very financially stable and when they stated the money went into the retirement account, that kind of confirms their status.

sweetie7398's avatarsweetie7398

CongratsParty

LiveInGreenBay's avatarLiveInGreenBay

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Nov 24, 2018

Maybe she works and her husband failed to clean the house.  But the article says they were tidying up for guests. This does not mean the house had not been cleaned in half a year. We all have a junk drawer, etc. and we all go to extra efforts for guests during the holidays.

They also appear to me to be very financially stable and when they stated the money went into the retirement account, that kind of confirms their status.

Maybe she works and her husband failed to clean the house?  You kidding me?  LOL!

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by LiveInGreenBay on Nov 24, 2018

Maybe she works and her husband failed to clean the house?  You kidding me?  LOL!

Are you kidding me???? Lol lol  Truly a different generation. Lol lol

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