A man who lost his wife to a heart attack last Saturday bought a $1 “Lucky for Life” Scratchers ticket in Marysville, Calif., the following day and won $650,000.

Timothy McDaniel will be taking the cash option and will receive a lump sum of $375,000 before taxes.


“I didn’t expect to win. I bought three Scratchers, a $5, a $2 and a $1. I saw it said ‘LIFE’ on there so I showed my nephew. I was like, ‘Paulie, what does it say!?’ He said, ‘I don’t know Uncle Tim. What’s it say?’ We were like no that ain’t real…that ain’t right. But then he read it again and I said, ‘That’s real! We won. Yahoo,’” McDaniel said in a release from the California Lottery.

The 55-year-old truck driver said that he plans on eating steak and lobster six days a week and wants to buy a house and a new truck.

"I think she just kind of sent me this money so I could continue taking care of the (grand) kids," McDaniel said.

The most McDaniel has ever won in the past is $200.

"Everything happens for a reason, and this is the break I needed," McDaniel said. "I'm going to keep on working and living my life the same I always have. The only difference is I have a big family, and now if anybody needs anything, I can help them out."

[California Lottery]