16-missouri-coworkers-pool-together-win-powerball-prize

16 Missouri Coworkers Pool Together to Win Powerball Prize

Secret Santa is going to be crazy this year at Pense Brothers Drilling after 16 employees at the Missouri firm recently won $1 million in the lottery.

The coworkers pool their money together every week to buy a bank of Powerball tickets. And for two years, they’ve never won anything close to a jackpot. But on Monday one of the workers began the normal routine of checking their tickets against the winning numbers. Bingo! They won $1 million split 16 ways.

They’ll each take home more than $62,000 before taxes, the news station said.

“I never thought that we would win anything substantial, just a few bucks here and there,” one of the winners told news station KAKE. “The money is going into the savings account for now, and I’ll decide later what to do, maybe go to Disney World.”

Many of the players thought it was a hoax when they got the call. For two years they’ve been disappointed every Monday. Annie Boren couldn’t believe it. She’d almost quit throwing into the pool each week because she thought it was a waste of money.

“I never thought I had a chance at winning the lotto and I honestly griped so hard each week about giving up my cash for it, the men probably wished I would have left the pool,” Boren said. “But each week I gave my share. I don’t really have any plans for the money other than saving the majority of it.”

Despite scoring more Gs than a drunk sign maker, Boren said she’s happiest for her coworkers.

“The best part of the whole day was watching some of the men I have worked with for years get so excited and the smiles on their faces,” Boren said. “These are hardworking men, and they deserve every dime they have won.”

Man Accidentally Buys 2 Lottery Tickets, Wins Twice

A North Carolina man somehow hit the jackpot twice. Scotty Thomas, of Fayetteville, bought the two lottery tickets recently and immediately forgot about them.

He paid so little attention to the tickets that he hadn’t realized they were identical. His son noticed the mistake the next day. Eh well, $4 lost, no big deal, he thought. Then the drawing happened.

Those identical tickets earned him $25,000 a year for life — each.

“When I realized I won, I had to lay down on the floor because I really just couldn’t believe it,” Thomas told the N.C. Education Lottery.

The 49-year-old dump truck driver had a few options on how he could receive the cash. The lottery could pay him the $50,000 a year — every year — for the rest of his life. Or, he could take $25K a year along with a $390,000 lump sum payment. Thomas went with door No. 3, a one-time check for $780,000.

He’s already earmarked some of that lottery cash. He wants to pay off some bills, invest in his business, and help his family.