3 Days After Retiring Lucky trucker wins $1M
After a 20-year career as a trucker, Paul Bashaw, aged 65, has decided to call it a day and retire. In an unexpected twist of fate, he experienced a stroke of good luck that changed his life.
On July 17, Paul informed his boss about his retirement plans, giving a two-week notice. Just three days later, he visited a J&J Variety convenience store in West Boylston, Mass., and purchased a scratch-off lottery ticket. Against all odds, with a one-in-1.008-million chance, he emerged as the lucky winner of a staggering $1 million ($1.3 million).
Overwhelmed with joy, Paul expressed his disbelief, recounting the three improbable events he thought he’d never witness: the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, getting a hole in one (which happened five years ago), and hitting the Lottery – now, he has experienced all three.
Incredibly, Paul managed to keep his lottery win a secret while quietly completing his last week-and-a-half at work. On his final Friday at the job, July 28, he cashed in his winning ticket, opting for a one-time cash payment of $650,000 ($870,000).
Paul’s golden ticket was part of the Massachusetts State Lottery’s $5,000,000 100X Cashword instant ticket game. Delighted to be “happily retired,” he has exciting plans ahead, intending to use his winnings and newfound free time to travel the world.
In addition to Paul’s success, the J&J Variety convenience store that sold him the ticket also enjoys a significant reward, receiving a $10,000 ($13,000) bonus.
West Boylston, situated in central Massachusetts, lies approximately 80 kilometers outside Boston.