All news

Fortune cookie helped predict a $1 million CASH4LIFE win in New Jersey

A good fortune, indeed!

The lucky $1 million Cash4Life winner holding their New Jersey Lottery check.
The lucky $1 million Cash4Life winner holding their New Jersey Lottery check. Photograph credit to the New Jersey Lottery.
Todd Betzold

As if not enjoying a good Chinese meal wasn’t enough, this lucky New Jersey Lottery turned it into a $1 million win playing the Lottery.

Fortune cookie prediction

The lucky player purchased the prize-winning CASH4LIFE ticket like he normally does: using the Jackpocket app registered with the New Jersey Lottery. However, a few days before making the purchase, he was enjoying a Chinese meal and cracked into the fortune cookie. He read the slip of paper that was inside, which said, “Believe in miracles…”

And it really predicted the future for this lucky winner, as days later, a miracle happened, and the CASH4LIFE ticket he bought turned into a $1 million winner.

A special message on the app

After the drawing took place, the winner logged into his app to check and see if he won. However, this time, he received a special message on his phone: the ticket he purchased just so happened to match all five of the white balls drawn, making him a winner of $1,000 a week for life!

The lucky winner immediately flashed back to that fortune cookie, which promised a miracle. The fortune cookie winner claimed his prize recently and opted to remain anonymous, but he took the cash value option of the ticket, or $1 million.

While he chose to remain anonymous, he did share his plans with the prize money. He is looking forward to a newfound comfort and stability in his financial future and retirement planning.

Not the first fortune cookie winner

While it sounds like a crazy concept and using a fortune cookie to predict your future, this isn’t the first time a fortune cookie message has paid off for New Jersey Lottery players.

In 2020, one lucky player got a fortune cookie message that said, “You will win big.” How can you ignore that good fortune? A couple of days later, he decided to purchase a Jersey Cash 5 ticket and walked away with a jackpot worth over $200,000! He also purchased the ticket using the Jackpocket app.

In 2018, one lucky player took it a step further. It wasn’t just the fortune cookie message they paid attention to. They happened to play the lucky numbers on the fortune cookie in a Mega Millions drawing. They matched all five of the white balls and won $1 million. Now, that is a fortune cookie message we can all get behind.

Back in 2005, there was an identical printed batch of fortune cookie papers made in Long Island City. From that batch, 100 players decided to play the lucky numbers on the paper for the Powerball drawing. It worked out well for them, as they each won $100,000 or more! We all know that it can’t happen every time, but sometimes, those fortune cookies do pay off for lottery winners.

Enjoy playing the New Jersey Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

Bobby Stuart, $1 million dollar lottery winner from Maine.
Win big, work hard: These lottery players won millions and kept their jobs

This nurse wouldn't quit even after winning a jackpot worth millions.

Alex Cramer profile pic

Alex Cramer

Jawed Areeb, accused of trying to claim a stolen Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket.
The $115K Florida Lottery ticket was real, but the claim wasn't

Investigators say a lottery retailer stole a winning Fantasy 5 ticket and sent his nephew to claim the prize.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Sloan Stanley of Meridian, Kansas, won $25,000 after playing the lottery for the first time.
High school jackpots: Lottery winners who struck it rich as teenagers

This 18-year-old won big with her first-ever lottery ticket.

Alex Cramer profile pic

Alex Cramer

Signs at a retailer displaying the Powerball, Mega Millions, and California SuperLotto Plus jackpots.
The most epic jackpots from 2025

 Which games hit the top 20 jackpots of 2025? No - it wasn't just Powerball and Mega Millions.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

Recent articles

View All
The Nebraska State Capitol building in Lincoln.
Buying lottery tickets in Nebraska could soon get much faster

Supporters say age checks and convenience could boost sales without compromising safeguards.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Bobby Stuart, $1 million dollar lottery winner from Maine.
Win big, work hard: These lottery players won millions and kept their jobs

This nurse wouldn't quit even after winning a jackpot worth millions.

Alex Cramer profile pic

Alex Cramer

Jawed Areeb, accused of trying to claim a stolen Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket.
The $115K Florida Lottery ticket was real, but the claim wasn't

Investigators say a lottery retailer stole a winning Fantasy 5 ticket and sent his nephew to claim the prize.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The hand of a customer hands over a credit card to the hand of a retailer.
A small lottery purchase ignites a big fight over fair play

Officials say tickets must be sold at face value. Are credit card fees on lottery sales legal?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold