Formerly unhoused woman wins $5 million in California Lottery - Los Angeles Times
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This woman used to be homeless. She’s now a millionaire after winning California Lottery

A billboard promoting the California Lottery Scratchers game against a dusk sky
A billboard promotes the California Lottery Scratchers game in Inglewood.
(Kirby Lee / Associated Press)
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Lucia Forseth was homeless in 2017.

Six years later, she’s a millionaire.

The California woman won $5 million playing the state lottery, according to the California Lottery. She told lottery officials that she bought a Scratchers ticket at a Walmart Supercenter in Pittsburg, Calif., where she had gone to get an oil change on her car.

“I only bought one ticket,” she said in a statement. “I closed my eyes and picked that one, and I won! I first thought I’d won a free ticket, but I checked, and it said I won $5 million!”

Powerball jackpot winner Edwin Castro dropped $25.5 million on a Hollywood Hills home shortly after winning the $2-billion lottery.

March 7, 2023

Forseth said she’s now getting married and pursuing an associate’s degree, and she plans to buy a home and invest the rest of her winnings.

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“Being homeless just six years ago, I never thought it would happen to someone like me,” Forseth said.

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