There are various ways people have attempted to cheat the system, such as tampering with a slot machine to get more coins. However, one couple discovered a legal ‘loophole’ in the lottery, earning them an incredible $26 million.
For most of us, playing the lottery is often a spur-of-the-moment decision, perhaps inspired by a good mood or a random event. However, a retired couple took a different approach, devising a calculated plan to beat the lottery odds and secure a substantial cash prize.
According to Investopedia, the odds of clinching the jackpot in a Powerball draw are 1 in 292.2 million, indicating that superstitions like wishing on a star or avoiding sidewalk cracks are unlikely to be effective strategies.
Jerry and Marge Selbee from Evart, Michigan, identified a ‘loophole’ in the system that enabled them to amass significant wealth.
This approach might sound questionable, yet they discovered a legitimate method to win the lottery—specifically, through a game called Cash Winfall. Here’s how they did it.
After retiring in their early 60s, the couple planned to relax and enjoy life, as they shared on an episode of CBS News’ 60 Minutes Overtime.
However, Jerry, who has a knack for mathematics, spotted that if the Cash Winfall jackpot climbed to $5 million without a six-number match, the prize money ‘rolled down’ to lower-tier winners, prompting him to take action.
To understand Jerry’s plan, you’ll need to recall some high school math.
“If I played $1100, mathematically I’d have one four-number winner – that’s 1,000 bucks.” he explained.
“I divided 1100 by six instead of 57, because I did a mental quick dirty, and I come up with 18. So I knew I’d have either 18 or 19 three-number winners, and that’s 50 bucks each.
He continued: “At 18, I got $1000 for a four-number winner, and I got 18 three-number winners worth $50 each, so that’s 900 bucks.
“So I got $1,100 invested and I’ve got a $1,900 return.”
Even if the math seems complex, the key takeaway is that an $800 return on a $1,100 investment is quite impressive.
Jerry first tested the strategy by purchasing $3,600 worth of Winfall tickets, resulting in a $6,300 gain.
Each time he played, he increased the investment, buying $8,000 worth of tickets the next round and nearly doubling it. This cycle continued, and soon they were wagering vast sums.
The couple didn’t keep this secret to themselves; they involved family and friends, eventually amassing $26 million collectively by playing in Massachusetts when the game closed.
“It is actually just basic arithmetic,” Jerry noted. “It gave you the satisfaction of being successful at something that was worthwhile to not only us personally but to our friends and our family.”
Eventually, the Massachusetts Lottery shut down the game following a tip to the Boston Globe about potential manipulation, but by then it was 2011, and the Selbees and their co-conspirators had already secured their wealth.
Although the authorities investigated, they concluded that no crimes were committed; the couple simply outsmarted the system.
Their story inspired the 2022 film “Jerry & Marge Go Large,” featuring Bryan Cranston. The movie is available on Paramount Plus for those interested in seeing this incredible tale on screen.