A retired couple goes to buy a pizza and becomes millionaires for not having change for the tip: “It’s worth a million”

What started as a quick pizza run turned into an unforgettable twist of fate for a retired couple when they made an impromptu decision at the grocery store.

They weren’t planning anything special—just grabbing dinner at their local pizzeria. But when they realized they didn’t have small bills to leave a tip, they crossed the street to a grocery store looking for change. What happened next feels straight out of a Hollywood script.

Instead of just breaking a bill, the couple decided to buy a $20 scratch-off ticket on impulse. As soon as they scratched it, everything changed: they had won $1 million.

“I think this one’s a million,” Nelson, the husband, recalled telling his wife as he returned to the restaurant, still in disbelief. The two have been married for more than 40 years—and never imagined such a simple decision could change their lives in an instant.

A surprise win, thanks to pizza cravings

Nelson, a long-time lottery player, scanned the ticket using the California Lottery app to confirm what seemed impossible. The win was real.

“My wife almost had a heart attack,” he said in a press release. “And then we had to go in and buy the pizza.”

He credits the win to her. “It was all because of her, she’s the one that likes the pizza,” he joked.

Big dreams: How they plan to spend the jackpot

With their newfound fortune, the couple doesn’t plan on splurging wildly. Their top priorities? Paying off their home, buying a camper van, and traveling across the country to visit family—especially those living in the South and other regions.

It’s a dream many retirees share: freedom, mobility, and the chance to reconnect with loved ones.

The odds were staggering—but luck was on their side

According to the California Lottery, the chances of hitting the jackpot in the “$1,000,000 Jackpot” scratcher game are about 1 in 2.4 million.

Yet every year, a few lucky winners emerge—and many share one thing in common: they didn’t plan to buy a ticket. In fact, impulse plays or accidental purchases often lead to some of the biggest wins.

This story is a powerful reminder of how life can change in a blink—even when all you’re doing is grabbing a slice of pizza.

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