How a 100-Year-Old Grandma from New York Won the Lottery and Became a Millionaire

Margaret Green had lived in the same cozy apartment in Brooklyn, New York, for over 80 years. At 100 years old, she loved her simple routine: feeding the pigeons, chatting with neighbors, and visiting her favorite corner store. One morning, Margaret stopped by the store to buy milk and her usual newspaper. As she stood in line, she noticed a colorful sign near the counter advertising the New York Lotto. She’d seen it before but never thought much about it. The cashier, a cheerful young man named Tony, said, “Hey Mrs. Green, why don’t you try your luck today? The jackpot is $15 million!” Margaret chuckled and said, “Tony, at my age, luck doesn’t knock on your door anymore.” But Tony handed her a ticket slip and said, “You never know. Just pick a few numbers and see what happens.” Margaret decided to give it a try. She wrote down her favorite numbers: the birthdates of her late husband, her children, and even her cat. She handed the slip back to Tony, who printed her ticket and wished her good luck. That Saturday evening, Margaret sat in her favorite chair, watching TV when the winning numbers were announced. She grabbed her ticket, not expecting much. As the numbers were called out, her hands began to shake. One number matched. Then another. And another.

“Good heavens!” she gasped as all six numbers matched. Margaret couldn’t believe it—she had just won the New York Lotto jackpot!

The next day, her phone didn’t stop ringing as the news spread. The local TV station even came to interview her. Margaret said, “I never thought something like this would happen to me. I’m just a regular old lady who bought a $2 ticket!”

With her winnings, Margaret decided to take care of her family. She paid off her grandchildren’s college loans, donated to local charities, and even funded a new park in her neighborhood. She said, “I don’t need much, but I’m happy knowing I can help others.”

Margaret’s story became famous in her neighborhood. People started calling her “The Lucky Grandma.”

5 Tips to Win the Lottery (and Make It Work for You)

Know Your Lotteries
In New York, popular lotteries include New York Lotto, Powerball, and Mega Millions. Research the odds and choose the one you feel good about.

Set a Budget
Don’t spend too much on lottery tickets. Margaret only spent $2! Treat it as a fun activity, not a guarantee of income.

Pick Meaningful Numbers
Use numbers that are special to you, like birthdays or anniversaries, or let the machine randomly pick for you.

Stay Positive
Winning the lottery is rare, but someone has to win—why not you? Keep an optimistic attitude.

Plan Wisely If You Win
If you win, talk to a financial advisor to manage your money. Like Margaret, focus on helping yourself and others.

Margaret’s story proves that even at 100 years old, life can surprise you. So, the next time you pass by a lottery counter, maybe it’s your turn to try your luck!