With the Powerball jackpot nearing $1 billion a few months ago, Amos Tillet of Los Angeles bought $20 worth of tickets — and then forgot about them.
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A few days later, a friend asked him to retrieve something from the vehicle and he found the tickets left in a cupholder. One turned out to be worth $1.4 million.
“I ran around the living room and, I kind of like, fell out in joy,” Tillet said.
He had to scan the slip twice to be sure he’d won.
Tillet said it was ironic because when he bought the tickets, the clerk had asked him why he was only buying $20 for the huge jackpot.
“I told the guy, ‘Man, I’ll be happy with a million,’” Tillet said. “Sure enough, kind of what I ended up with.”
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The current Powerball jackpot is $562 million with a $230.4 cash value. The next drawing is Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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This story was originally published October 14, 2026 at 8:36 AM.
