Virginia Man Receives $1 Million Wedding Gift—Thanks To His Father’s Lucky Lottery Ticket

Virginia Man Receives $1 Million Wedding Gift—Thanks To His Father’s Lucky Lottery Ticket

The typical gifts for newlyweds include kitchen appliances, money for their honeymoon, or even a priceless piece of family jewelry. However, Aaron Andrews of Prince William County, Virginia, found that his life was entirely transformed by his father's exceptional gift. Imagine beginning your marriage with a $1 million lottery ticket instead of a new toaster! This is the remarkable story as it happened.

After getting married in April, Aaron Andrews and his spouse had been staying in his father's basement. He had no idea how drastically that arrangement was going to change. As a fervent lottery bettor, Aaron's father struck it lucky when he bought a ticket for the Virginia Lottery's Cash4Life drawing. The ticket won either a one-time cash payout of $1 million or a prize of $1,000 per week for life if it matched the first five numbers in the drawing on August 3.  But Aaron's father chose to give his son the ticket as a wedding present rather than keeping it for himself, and that decision changed the course of an already amazing year.

Aaron made his payout choice without hesitation. It's one of the most lavish wedding gifts one could ever imagine because he chose the $1 million cash option. Aaron told lottery officials, "I have a great father who has done nothing but look out for me," when he redeemed the ticket. 

With a Cash Ball of 2, the winning numbers for the August 3rd Cash4Life drawing were 25, 35, 36, 41, and 59. Aaron's father bought the ticket from PJ's Neighborhood Variety Store in Triangle, Virginia, and chose the Easy Pick option, which allowed the computer to choose the numbers at random. Clearly, the choice to let the computer select the numbers paid off handsomely.

This windfall gives Aaron the chance to buy a house with his new bride. With some luck and his father's generosity, he won't have to live in the basement any longer. "This was the best way to get him out of my basement," his father joked, taking it all in good humor.

Virginia is one of ten states where Cash4Life is a lottery game that is accessible. $1,000 per day for life or $1,000 per week for life are the two primary prizes up for grabs. A single digit separated Aaron's father from the top prize, which would have been $1,000 a day for life, but even so, the second prize—$1,000 a week or the $1 million lump sum—was a fantastic windfall.

Let's examine the math in more detail. A $1,000 weekly income for life is an alluring option, particularly for a younger person. This option would cost $1,040,000 over 20 years and $2,080,000 over 40. But there's always the issue of life expectancy and conditions. Rather than waiting for a weekly payout over decades, Aaron chose to take the $1 million immediately, which gives him financial security right away and enables him to make big life changes right away.

This touching tale of good fortune, family, and a well-timed wedding present serves as a reminder of the important role lotteries play in funding public services. All lottery winnings in Virginia are donated straight to public K–12 schools. Lottery funding exceeded $64.6 million for Prince William County Public Schools alone in the previous fiscal year, ensuring a better future for countless students.  The Virginia Lottery provided over $934 million for K–12 education in the fiscal year 2024, which accounted for roughly 10% of the state’s total K–12 school budget. In other words, while Aaron Andrews is enjoying his newfound wealth, many Virginia students are also profiting indirectly from the state's lottery players' good fortune.

The life-changing choices, a family generosity, and pure luck all come together beautifully in Aaron Andrews' story. Aaron and his wife were given the financial freedom to begin their new life together when what had started out as an ordinary wedding gift from his father turned into a million-dollar surprise. The narrative serves as a reminder of the amazing opportunities that can be found in even the most unlikely places—and the value of family along the journey, even though not every lottery player will win large.  

Aaron will take with him not only the equivalent of a million dollars but also the invaluable gift of a father's love and support as he exits his father's basement and begins a new chapter in his life.