Connecticut man switched gas stations to fit his oversized trailer — the brief stop made him $4M richer minutes later
The smallest detours in life sometimes lead to the biggest surprises. This is exactly what happened with a Connecticut man, Phil, who had to make an unexpected stop on his way to work, a route that turned him into a multimillionaire. According to a press release from the Connecticut Lottery, Phil was heading toward a job site on a rainy morning when his “larger-than-expected trailer tow” forced him to pull into a different gas station than usual. As a result, he stopped at a Gulf station, a decision that proved to be life-changing. At the station, he decided to purchase a ticket for the Connecticut Lottery’s $4,000,000 Fortune scratch game, as reported by PEOPLE on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
“I had a half hour to kill before we clocked in, so I scratched the ticket. It said $4,000,000, and I started shaking,” said Phil, speaking with the lottery officials. “I scanned the QR code, and everything was legit. I just kept shaking... I couldn’t believe it. I was a millionaire,” he expressed. The lottery ticket was sold at Gulf Convenience Mart on the Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Cheshire. The store will also receive a bonus of $40,000 for selling the ticket.
Mini Jacob, store manager at Gulf Convenience Mart, said that the news had brought excitement to the entire team. “I love celebrating their wins and hearing their success stories,” Jacob said. The chances of winning the $4,000,000 Fortune stand at 1 in 2.38, according to the outlet. Despite winning, Phil continued his work as per the schedule. He shared that he’s planning to invest the winnings and is also looking forward to going on a vacation. Viewers congratulated Phil in the comment section. @liviahallidaysantos wrote, “Good for you.” @sallymorton9 also wished him good and mentioned, “Best wishes, and best get some good financial advice.” @swagoriginator exclaimed, "Congratulations."
Phil’s story is a reminder that luck often shows up when you least expect it. However, sometimes, it isn’t just luck but also a promise that quietly waits years to be fulfilled. In another story, almost thirty years ago, Thomas Cook made a simple handshake deal with his best friend, Joseph Feeney. Cook and Feeney were both fishing buddies and agreed that if either of them ever won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the prize. The pact they made in 1992 turned into reality in June 2020, when Cook bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He ended up winning $22 million.
“It was quite an experience. When I read the first two or three numbers, I kind of froze,” Cook said, according to Wisconsin Lottery. Soon after winning the lottery, he called Feeney, who was in disbelief. They both chose the cash option, taking home roughly $5.7 million each after taxes. Cook decided to take retirement and spend time with his grandchildren. Feeney, a former firefighter, enjoyed a quieter life.