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.
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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!
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.
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.
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 !
As President Reagan once said " Here we go again!"
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.
The correct quote from President Reagan is "There you go again."
Mamma Mia!
I misquoted Stack. That was President Abba. Good catch there bud.
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
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.
Congrats
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
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.
Ticket sitting in the same spot for 5 1/2 months. For you invited guests if I was you I would be a no show. Dirty house means dirty people which= bubble gut to the 5th power. Maybe now that can hire a cleaning company to come in once a week.
You sound like you have sour grapes over their win. You are creating facts that are not in the story.
Congrats to the winners.
Congratulations to this couple! What is meant for you will happen and their were bless at the perfect time. Enjoy!
I'm always amazed at people who buy lottery tickets and don't check them after the drawing.
" that the sole WINNING ticket of a major jackpot was purchased "- had to get that fixed before the correction police show up..
What a relief.
Lately there is a rash of stories about misplaced and found jackpot winning tickets. Troy Landry put his jackpot winning ticket in alligators.
Sam here.
In Louisiana, if you're a regular ticket buyer, they give you a vinyl pouch to thumbtack to the wall to put all your tickets in so you see them, and know to check them.
I too am mystified that people don't check their tickets. I'm checking mine minutes after the draw.
I work with one guy that will tell me he bought a ticket a few weeks ago, and he hasn't checked it. I'll tell him even if he didn't win the jackpot he might have won something, why even bother buying a ticket if you don't care to check it? He just shrugs.