Oregon man claims $8M lottery jackpot after accidentally putting winning ticket through the wash

Jan 17, 2020, 8:23 pm (11 comments)

Oregon Lottery

SALEM, Ore. — Laundry day got very exciting for an Oregon man who accidentally washed his wallet, with a Megabucks ticket worth $8.4 million inside. Fortunately, it survived, even though two less-valuable tickets didn't.

"I washed my wallet — and then realized I had lottery tickets in there," said Scott Moe of Portland, who won the prize. "A couple of the tickets were destroyed, but not the jackpot ticket."

Moe was piecing together his laundered lottery tickets right before bed, and after utilizing the lottery's ticket-scanning app for the first time and realizing he had won the $8.4 million jackpot, it was midnight. Moe said that luckily, the ticket worth $8.4 million was the last one he bought and protected by other tickets in his wallet.

"I didn't sleep until later the next day," he said. "My mind was racing!"

Moe brought the ticket to the Oregon Lottery Friday, Jan. 10 to verify it was the winning ticket. Then he took advantage of leaving the ticket at the lottery, while he determined the best way to claim his prize.

Players can leave their validated tickets at the Oregon Lottery office for up to 60 days, while they decide how to take their prize, either in a one-time lump sum or 30 annual payments. When Moe came back Monday, he said he contacted a financial advisor and was working on a plan.

Moe took the bulk-sum option, which splits the prize in half to $4.2 million, and after taxes, Moe took home $2.85 million.

Moe purchased the ticket from the Buy2 on SW Oleson Road in Portland. Officials with the company said this was the first time one of their stores had sold a jackpot ticket, and they were very excited for Moe and to be a supporter of the Oregon Lottery.

"We are very happy to be able to help support such great state programs the Lottery helps to fund," said Emily Valentine, marketing manager for Buy2.

For selling the winning ticket, Buy2 will receive a 1-percent selling bonus of $84,000.

During the 2018 fiscal year, more than $90.1 million in Oregon Lottery proceeds were directed to economic development, parks, education, Outdoor School, Veterans services and watershed enhancement in Multnomah County, where Moe lives and purchased the ticket. Since 1985, Oregon Lottery players have won more than $38 billion in prizes.

The Oregon Lottery reminds players to always sign the back of their Lottery tickets, regardless of the game. In the event of winning a jackpot, they should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Prize winners of more than $50,000 are advised to contact the Lottery office and schedule an appointment to claim their prize.

KTVZ, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

ohiopick3's avatarohiopick3

Congratulations Scott!

I believe you cleaned out your wallet the correct way!

Lucky that your winning ticket was saved by the losers. You probably cannot ever get luckier that!

Unbelievable, to say the least.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

I hope you didn't try to dry the tickets in the micro wave. Every thing else would be alright, but the tix will burn up. Learned that the hard way, but was still able to cash it. It was just a box hit though. Congrats on the big win. 

Big Joey

Texas lottery tickets disintegrate if wet, they're made from pure paper. Louisiana tickets are far better holding up after getting wet. I've washed both accidentally at different times, and there was nothing left to the Texas tickets, Louisiana was just wrinkled. I've washed both in pants pockets unprotected. I have a habit of shoving the ticket in my pocked before shopping. Louisiana tickets hold up to water. Texas tickets is like washing Kleenex.

noise-gate

The minute l read Moe, l thought of the guy in the middle..Image result for the three stooges But once l read $8 mil, all comments stopped in their tracks.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jan 17, 2020

The minute l read Moe, l thought of the guy in the middle..Image result for the three stooges But once l read $8 mil, all comments stopped in their tracks.

I Agree!  Curly, Moe, Larry are on classic tv channels. 

 Micro-waves and hot irons are deadly to lottery tickets. The heat turns them black.

 Congrats to Scott Moe!!Party

Raven62's avatarRaven62

To Avoid Laundry Mishaps Empty Pockets Before Washing Garments! Thud

dannyct

Maybe he should be changed with money laundering!

This is why I like subscriptions. You can loose your ticket, and it is automatically checked. If you win a small prize, the amount is credited to your account. If you win a large prize, they call you.

Stat$talker's avatarStat$talker

LOL,.. that's not the proper way of Money Laundering...because it doesn't involve detergent...!!

In fact , the dirtier YOU are , the cleaner the Money...!!!......gEt It? Wink

-Stat$talker

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jan 18, 2020

I Agree!  Curly, Moe, Larry are on classic tv channels. 

 Micro-waves and hot irons are deadly to lottery tickets. The heat turns them black.

 Congrats to Scott Moe!!Party

Hey music, I  was looking through some " winners " on the CA site & noted one from Fresno. Wouldn't be you now, would it, keeping treasure talk yourself huh?🤦🏼‍♂️

* Slightly off topic: was standing in line to pick up 2 PB tickets & the conversation in front of me was one guy asking the other if he was going for a QP or had he filled out his own slip- the guy responded " l win or lose by my own hand." The response was " l heard there are more winners wth QP's than self picks.. the final comeback was " You ever let someone else pick your GF or wife?" : Me.Smh.

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

Maybe the guy can use some of the money to buy a new, and better, wallet. I managed to wash mine about a year ago, but when I found it in the washing machine (maybe still in the pocket of my jeans?) I just put it on a radiator overnight before opening it. IIRC there was a lottery ticket in it, and it came out a little bit stiff, but otherwise perfectly good.

I have occasionally washed a paper towel and they don't hold up very well. Of course I never washed one that was in my wallet.

LottoMetro's avatarLottoMetro

I recently found that my phone charger had gone through the washing machine, and I too felt like I had won the lottery when I plugged it in and worked perfectly.

End of comments
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