CHICAGO, Ill. — Here’s a story that’s going to give you all the feels and maybe a little lottery envy. An Illinois man just scooped up a $650,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot. But this wasn’t just dumb luck — he believes it was something deeper.

Let’s call him “Big Money D” (because that’s what he chose). Our guy wasn’t even a Lucky Day Lotto regular. Nope, he was a Pick 4 kind of dude. But on one random day, he decided to switch things up. Why? The jackpot was high, and he felt like doing something different. So, he picked a set of numbers tied to his late wife. And guess what? Those numbers hit. Boom. $650,000.

Now, let’s pause here. Imagine picking some numbers linked to someone you’ve lost, throwing a couple of bucks on a ticket, and then winning big. That’s not just luck — that’s some Nicholas Sparks-meets-Random-Chance level stuff.

“When I won, it felt like a message from her,” Big Money D said. Cue all the tears.

He bought the ticket at a Mariano’s in Edgewater, Chicago, and matched all five numbers: 9, 11, 12, 13, and 17. If those numbers mean something to you, maybe it’s time to grab a ticket yourself. Just saying.

But winning isn’t all instant yachts and champagne showers. It took him a full day to wrap his head around what just happened. “I’m still so shocked and excited about the win, I have barely been able to sleep,” he admitted. Fair enough. Who needs sleep when you’ve got $650K and a bucket list to tackle?

What’s he doing with the money? The dream home, of course. “I’m already looking at houses and can’t wait to purchase my dream home for myself and my kids — it truly is a dream come true.” Practical and heartwarming.

Oh, and the retailer who sold him the ticket got a $6,500 bonus, which is a nice little holiday surprise for them, too.

So what’s the takeaway here? Life is weird, random, and sometimes heartbreakingly beautiful. Big Money D didn’t just win some cash; he found a moment of connection with someone he loves and lost. And isn’t that worth more than the money? (OK, maybe not more, but definitely worth a lot.)

Feeling inspired? The Lucky Day Lotto jackpot is back at $200,000 today. Odds are slim — 1 in 1,221,759, to be exact — but hey, as Big Money D just showed us, sometimes life gives you a sign. Or, in this case, $650,000.