Nurse ‘had about five people look’ to confirm $1 million win, California Lottery says

A nurse playing a California Lottery scratcher at her nursing station was so surprised by her winnings that she startled a fellow nurse, lottery officials reported.

“I started scratching and saw the one and commas and was like, ‘Oh my God,’” Stacy Hagberg said in a lottery news release. “My coworker thought I was telling her she did something wrong, and I said ‘No, I think I just won a million dollars!’”

The Shasta County resident won $1 million on a $10 Power 10’s ticket — but had a hard time believing it at first, the lottery said.

“I scanned it, and had about five people look,” Hagberg said. “It didn’t really sink in until I had the money and could see it in my bank account. It still feels surreal.”

She purchased the Power 10’s tickets at a gas station on her way to her overnight shift only because the retailer had run out of her favorite game.

“I usually buy a few of a different game I like playing but they only had one of those left,” Hagberg said. “So, I bought it and randomly picked out three Power 10’s. If they had had more of the game I usually buy, I wouldn’t have bought the Power 10’s and won the million dollars! It was meant to be.”

She plans to use the money to pay off debts and eventually retire, lottery officials said.

“I used to feel I’d probably have to work until the day I died!” Hagberg said.

This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Nurse ‘had about five people look’ to confirm $1 million win, California Lottery says."