Silver lining hiding amidst the holiday rush
By Kate Northrop
HAYWARD, Calif. — A California airport employee took a break from the holiday travel rush to find that he had won $20 million in the lottery.
A Bay Area airport worker discovered during his lunch break that he was set for life after winning a $20 million top prize in a lottery scratch-off game.
Durwin Hickman works as a skycap, which involves helping travelers check in for their flight and assisting with their luggage. When he went on break for lunch, he pulled out the $30 "Set for Life! Millionaire Edition" scratch-off ticket that he had bought earlier.
It wasn't looking too promising as he scratched his way through the play area, that is, until he reached the second-to-last spot. Waiting for him at the end of the ticket was the word "LIFE," in other words, a $20 million top prize.
Hickman undoubtedly must have felt like he was soaring above the clouds in that moment.
"It was the biggest rush I have ever had in my life," he told the California Lottery.
Hickman took a photo of the ticket and texted it to his wife for her to double-check that he really did win $20 million.
While he had won $1,000 playing the lottery before, it's pennies compared to the life-changing windfall he just scooped up. With it, he wants to improve the housing he shares with his partner.
"My whole thing is I wanted to buy my wife a house," he revealed.
Before he brought it into work with him on that fateful day, Hickman had bought the winning ticket at L & M Liquor on Vermont Street in Hayward. The retailer will receive a $100,000 for selling it.
The $30 "Set for Life! Millionaire Edition" scratch-off game is no longer on sale and was discontinued in September. The final date to collect winnings from that game or use those tickets to enter second chance drawings is March 10, 2024.
You deserve it! Enjoy your winnings!
I want to know if he went back to work? Or did he finish his shift like a dumb ass...
All the best to him! Goodbye, rat race! I hope...
CONGRATULATIONSSS
Congratulations to the winner! Hopefully he and his family will be able to enjoy that money for many years.
I wouldn't just walk off the job and leave everyone high and dry. I like my job and my coworkers so if I did win, I'd give notice before I left.
The other thing is I wouldn't quit until I actually had the money in my hand. I don't want to start spending money I don't have.
I am confused, how did he buy the ticket, it they stopped selling it in September? Maybe not enough caffeine today, sorry.
Dude, this guy is not a dumb ass if he decided to keep on working until the end of his shift. it is his choice. Pierre Richer 60 won 50 million dollars in the Canadian lottery in November 2023. He is the manager and driver of the shipping department at a catering business. He gets up everyday at 4 am to go to work. He said he will not quit because the job needs him and the place would fall apart without him. What you should have said is, YOU would quit YOUR job in the middle of shift leaving the job short staffed if YOU ever win millions of dollars in the lottery.
everyone has thar respective reason for why they do what they do and why should you care ?!?
Once the tickets are out there the retailers are allowed to sell whatever inventory has been activated in the lottery system.
Sometimes prizes take a while to payout, depending on whether or not the person owes anything to the state.
That's why I would wait until I had the money.
I want to know how many 30.00 scratch tickets he has played this year. Seems to be a pricey item for someone living in substandard housing.
Yes, I would quit in the middle of the shift.
Me too!!! =0p
I like knowing how someone reacted to winning $20 million dollars and if they continued working their boring ass job. lol =0p
I've definitely had jobs where I wouldn't think twice about quitting on the spot (with or without a jackpot!) but if the job was good to me and I enjoyed it, I would want to be honorable and continue working until my replacement was found. I would also be generous with my nice coworkers/boss.
What I am thinking is, even though the lottery had stopped selling the Set For Life tickets in September, some stores still had them in stock and continued to sell them. As long as any winning tickets are cashed in by March 10, 2024 the lottery will still honor the tickets
Congratulations to the winner!!!!
As for working after a big win, I would quit my job on the spot! Sometimes a big windfall can cause resentment and jealousy. Plus, I can find much better things to do.
For those who can stay on the job after a big lottery win, great for them. I do agree staying on the job after a big win can cause resentment. I remember reading several years ago about a woman who won 50 million in the lottery. She was asked by reporters if she was going to continue working. She said yes because she loved her job. Reporters caught up with her several months later and she said she had to quit her job because of resentment from her co-workers
Yes, every single one of the employees at your job would resent you even if they did not admit to it. You cannot stay at your job if you hit the lottery. That should be a law and enforced heavily.
Entitled people will always be jealous of something someone has acquired. I have an across the street neighbor who was resentful when she saw a new washer and dryer being delivered to me. Lol I have never been jealous or resentful of any possession someone had.