Russell Ruff from Somers, Connecticut, recently experienced an unexpected turn of events when his family cat led him to a misplaced Powerball ticket. The ticket, which had been lost behind a headboard at home, turned out to be worth $150,000.
“We lost the ticket at home. It went behind a headboard, and we didn’t think too much of it… we didn’t really check the numbers,” Russell recounted. The discovery occurred when the cat ventured behind the bed, prompting Russell and his sons to retrieve it. In doing so, they found both the cat and the forgotten ticket.
After verifying the numbers with the CT Lottery app multiple times for assurance, Russell confirmed that his long-lost ticket was indeed a winner. “It was a miracle,” he said.
The winning ticket was originally purchased on Friday, June 13—a date often associated with superstition—for fun. The subsequent Powerball drawing revealed that Russell’s ticket matched four out of five winning numbers plus the Powerball number. By opting for Power Play, his prize increased from $50,000 to $150,000.
Russell works as a school bus driver in Somers and is a regular participant in CT Lottery games. He bought this particular ticket at Small Town LLC on Main St., Somers.
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation highlights that overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9 while jackpot odds stand at 1 in 292 million-plus. They remind participants that help is available for problem gambling through their helpline or website.
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation has been generating revenue for state programs since its inception in 1972 and continues to support essential services through its contributions to Connecticut’s General Fund.
For more information about playing responsibly or details about lottery operations, individuals can visit ctlottery.org or contact their helpline services.
