Rebeca Gonzalez, a Walmart employee from Los Angeles County, just got a life-changing surprise—and it all started on what she thought would be a regular, slightly inconvenient workday.
It was Labor Day, and Gonzalez was called in to work for just three hours at her Walmart store. “I wasn’t thrilled about it,” she admitted. Her family had barbecue plans, and she would have much rather been at home enjoying the holiday. But, being the dedicated worker she is, she showed up anyway.
As the day wound down and her short shift came to an end, Gonzalez was on her way out when she passed a California Lottery vending machine. That’s when she remembered her earlier thought of grabbing a lottery ticket. With $10 in hand, she purchased a Single Double Triple Scratchers ticket. Little did she know, that small decision would make her a millionaire.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Gonzalez said, recalling the moment she realized she had hit the $1 million jackpot. What started as an ordinary day turned into one she’ll never forget.
With her winnings, Gonzalez plans to pay off all her debt and finally close on a new home with her husband—a dream that’s now within reach. Walmart is also getting a little something out of this lucky streak; the store will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Despite her newfound fortune, Gonzalez isn’t planning to quit her job anytime soon. “I’ve only told one person at work—the manager who called me in that day,” she said with a laugh. “He was just as shocked as I was.”
For those curious about the Single Double Triple Scratchers game, it’s a matching game with plenty of ways to win. You can score a prize by matching your game numbers to any of the winning numbers. If two numbers match in the same game, your prize doubles, and if all three match, you triple your winnings. And if you don’t win instantly? No worries—non-winning tickets can be entered into a second-chance game for another shot at cash prizes.
You can submit those tickets on the California Lottery website or through their mobile app by entering the ticket’s unique codes. So, even if luck doesn’t strike the first time, there’s still hope for a second chance.
Gonzalez’s incredible story serves as a reminder that sometimes, a regular day can turn into something extraordinary—even if it starts with a reluctant trip to work.
