Pamela Ivey won $1 million in the Mega Millions multi-state lottery after a store clerk accidentally added the game's multiplier feature to her ticket, which quadruples the amount the player can win.
Ivey, who bought the ticket in Georgetown, Ky., didn't ask for the "Megaplier," which doubled the price of her ticket from $5 to $10, but she took it anyway.
"I glanced at her name tag and it said Susan and I thought, 'Oh Susan, don't do that to me,'" Ivey said.
The usual winnings for the second-level prize Ivey won is $250,000. But the Megaplier left her with $690,000, after taxes.
"I dropped to my knees and praised God" when she checked her ticket two days after the winning numbers were announced, she said.
Ivey told local media that she will use the money for her son's college tuition and to pay off some bills, while donating some to her church.
When I bought my powerball tickets last night...the clerk ran one ticket twice and didn't run one of them.I kept it though because I didn't wanna share if I won hahaha
This is great story. This has happened to me too, except for the the part where I win anything. The most I've ever won was ten bucks.
Everything happens for a reason, and always works out.This is a good example of that.So I hope Pamela will pass it forward,because the ride ain't over yet. Pam do something nice for Susan, the keyholder to your hidden blessing .
I was hoping that would happen to me.lol
Congratulations to Pamela , what an unexpected surprise.
Congratulations to her. I wish I could win $250,000 or more like yesterday!
Because the odds of hitting the jackpot are so high, this is a good example of why it might be better to use the megapilier. A cool $1 million is a nice consolation prize!
BTW, all the TV stations ran Pamela's story and it was on the front page of several newspapers as was the story about the PowerBall winner at Christmas time. If someone wants to remain anonymous, I don't suggest playing in Kentucky.
From the OP:
"Pamela Ivey won $1 million in the Mega Millions multi-state lottery after a store clerk accidentally added the game's multiplier feature to her ticket, which quadruples the amount the player can win."
__________________________
LUCK, plain and simple.
Congrats to Pamela! That was fate. She was meant to win that. I think a little "guiding" hand made sure the clerk pushed the right button.
I notice, nowhere did she mention sharing some of her windfall with the clerk who "made" the $1 million error.
This is why I always—whenever possible—buy any "oops" tickets like that. I have the feeling that the moment I don't, the person behind me will buy the ticket and win. It's happened before, and I'm sure it'll happen again.
I agree, unless its a $50 dollar ticket like I have seen before at the local grocery stores around me. (I guess the machine printed 10 sets for next 10 draws)
The gas station had a $10.00 PBall ticket that was printed on accident last night. I told the dude if it was still there today I would go buy it. Well see what happens when I get off work. It may still be there.
Im sure the clerk is expecting something since it was technically her mistake which resulted in this lady winning the extra $$...Will be interesting to see if she does anything for her
I'm glad that Pam won her million.
If that was in MA, Pam would have won only $250,000 because MA has no megaplier.
It saddens me to no end that this is the case.
oh and by the way, is Pam obligated to share her win with the clerk the way I see some guys here alluding? if you say yes then I have to ask for what?? selling her the tickets??
If this is the entitlement culture that conservatives hate about the liberals then I am a full blooded conservative. Pam won that money fair and square. She can reward Susan if she feels.
I too was wondering why she did not mention sharing something with the clerk. I too always keep mistakes made by the clerk as I see so many stories where the winning ticket turns out to be the rejected "mistake" ticket. Back in the 90's the DE lotto jackpot got up to around $2 million. There was a story in the paper about the winner. He was an EMT and was standing behind a man that wanted $15 worth of tickets. The clerk printed out 3 - $5 tickets, but this guy wanted separate $1 tickets and rejected the $5 ones. The EMT behind him said "I'll take them". And you know the rest of the story....the $2 million winner was one of those!
NO she is absolutely not obligated to give a portion or her winnings to the clerk.
So what does Susan get for her error since Ivey won. She should at least go to the store and appologize to the clerk, and give her a tip for the "error" she felt was made. I bet if she had't won she would have gone back to the store and gripped about how much money she made her spend. Do the right thing and tip Susan. She deserves it cause seems like to me she was looking out for you....LOL
She don't owe her anything ,however if she's like me, I always tip the people who sell me my big winners.They are pleasantly surprise at my generosity, I am a true believer of pass it on.One never knows from where his next blessing will come.
yes she bought the ticket and yes it is her right to do what she pleases, but shame on her if she doesnt give that clerk SOMETHING for selling her the ticket, ESPECIALLY since without the clerks specific error she would not have had that ticket
I always tip the clerk when they screw up and print something wrong and/or when I win a huge jackpot except neither have ever happened so I havent had the opportunity. No I wouldnt split the winnings by any means, but a decent tip is the right thing to do.
Awesome. When something like that happens I just go with it. Never know.
if you start tipping clerks for errors the number of errors will increase!
I don't see it as worth it, mainly because I rarely hit anything above $2-$3. I do wish I could spend the extra, and sometimes I do, but every time I do it's always just an extra few dollars that got wasted (as it didn't get me any extra money and didn't give me another chance at winning).
For the story, I wish all the times my clerks have made accidents they've paid off.
I'm with you maringoman, if I won a Jackpot and I lived in a state that allows winners to be anonymous, I wouldn't even return to the store where I bought the ticket. Unfortunately for me, I dont live in a state that allows winners of multi-million dollar jackpots to remain anonymous.
I dont know if The State of Kentucky forced Pam to come forward or not, but IMHO, this particular situation kind of forces Pam to do something for the clerk. The story of the clerk's error was all over the news. Pam's name, and the first name of the clerk, Susan, was made very public. The store where Pam bought the ticket was most likely made aware of the fact they sold it, and if there's only one Susan working there, then it isnt any secret who sold the ticket. That really puts Pam on the spot. Pam can reward Susan if she feels she should, but if she doesnt feel she should tip Susan, (and she has every right not to) then she runs the risk of looking more than a tad cheap in the eyes of many people. All of this is a moot point anyway, because by today's date, Susan has probably already collected from Pam!
My state does allow winners of smaller JP's to remain anonymous if they choose. I have a family member that split a $68,000 JP in 2009. Because they were not required to have their name publicized, they chose to remain anonymous. Even though it was a smaller JP, this person was so tight lipped about winning it that I myself was surprised to learn of their good fortune, 14 months after the fact. By that time, most (but not all) of what they had won had already been spent.
I am in the same boat. It just isnt worth it to me, especially since I usually spend anywhere from about $5 - $25 per drawing, per game (usually on the lower end of course). So doubling that with the megaplier woudl put me out quick.
I look at the prize levels, I know the prize levels, and I am good with what they are.
Sure, makking a $250,000 into 1 million is awesome, but 250,000 alone is great too, in fact is <snip> near perfect for me so I think I will put in for more *chances* to win it as opposed to less chances but with a better chance of multiplying it.
yeah i wouldnt give em anything. its their job to sell tickets if they wanna win lotto buy a ticket. no ones entittled to a share expect someone who went shares in buying the ticket.
i know a few people who always bang on about how they would share out their lotto wins, and i know for a fact they never buy tickets.
even when the powerball here jackpots to $30+ mill, and i say hey lttos jackpotted you gonna buy a ticket. they dont.
i look forward to winning so when i hear the old line " i would share if i won "
i can say great lemme know when you win. i ll be there with my hand out.
Glad nj finally getting the Megaplier! what took so long?
The latest "error" in France has given a 10 millions euros for two friends, the've played those numbers for christmas but no big prize, then one week later one of them played the same numbers in secret.
And he got the BIG one!
He went to see his friend and told him: Have you got 5 euros? because I've played loto this week end and you've got to pay me, then after receiving the 5 euros he told him: and now I'm handling you HALF of what I won, 5 millions euros!
they've been friends from childhood, and always played loto together
A beautyful error!
Just last night I was cashing in a $3 winner on Friday's Megamillions, and I told the clerk I wanted one $2 scratch off, and a Powerball quick pick.
She must have been new, and honestly maybe not fully understanding English (lots of Western Indian folks around here own/run tobacco shops. In this case I think the owner was training his wife).
So she thought I said a 'one dollar jr jumbo bucks' scratch off because she started to hand me that. I turned it away at first, but as she ran the powerball ticket I requested I figured ,'why not' and ponied up the extra dollar for the jr jumbo.
I was NOT expecting the JUMBO symbol to jump up as I scratched it on the way home! I just knew a $100 would be under it, but no, this is me I am talking about so it was just a $2. But thats better than a 1 which is all better than NOTHING so I made $6 off the whole deal, plus I got my initial investment back. THEN, the other scratch off was a TICKET "winner" as well so I broke even on that one.
Some might argue the clerk did it on purpose, or could START doing that on purpose but I know she did it accidentally so this can be considered an 'error' and I am happy to say I benefited from buying it.
I really really like seeing JUMBO hidden under that scratchable ink :)
nice story magician . knowing my luck i would be out of cash and say i cant pay up!