Dad's Birthday Gift Makes Teen a Multimillionaire

19-year-old's father handed her 2 lottery tickets and she won $4M
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 27, 2014 8:20 AM CDT
Dad's Birthday Gift Makes Teen a Multimillionaire
In this July 17, 2014, photo, scratch-off lottery tickets for sale are on display.   (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

When 19-year-old Deisi Ocampo's father handed her two $20 Illinois Lottery tickets last week, his wish was a simple "Happy birthday." Happy birthday, indeed. One of the two $100 Million Money Mania scratch cards was soon found to be worth $4 million. "It turned out to be the best birthday present ever!" Ocampo said Friday morning when presented with a check at a Chicago gas station, reports WLS-TV. Ocampo said she planned to spend the money to "buy a new house for my family and pursue my dream of completing my degree and becoming a nurse," reports the Telegraph, which runs down the far less lofty ambitions of teens who've hit the jackpot in the past.

One teen who won the lottery in 2002 reportedly spent it all on parties, drugs, gifts, jewelry, houses, and bad investments, while the youngest teen to win the lottery in the UK, 16-year-old Callie Rogers, spent her 2003 winnings on drugs, cosmetic surgery, and parties and went on to attempt suicide multiple times. (A waitress who recently won $12 million in Minnesota's Hot Lotto says she loves her job and plans to keep it.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X