Retired Couple Wins $26 Million After Breaking Lottery Code

Do you need a good reason to improve on your math skills? A retired couple has won a total of $26 million from the lottery. Their secret weapon, as it appears, is that they have figured out the lottery code using “basic arithmetic.”

Jerry and Marge Selbee of Evart, Michigan were high school sweethearts who have successfully raised six children. They live a simple life running a convenience store and have plenty of spare time on their hands. So what else can a retired couple do? Jerry decided it was time to try their luck at the lottery. However, he did more than just go for random numbers. Jerry actually figured out the lottery code so he and his wife can get multiple legitimate wins.

The couple found an awesome way to win big at the lottery.

Jerry and Marge employed their new tactic on the new lottery game called ‘Winfall’ where if the jackpot reached $5 million and no one matched all six numbers, the money would ‘roll down’ to the lower-tier prize winners. Jerry explained how it worked in his favor.

“I said if I played $1,100 mathematically I’d have one 4-number winner, that’s 1,000 bucks. I divided 1,100 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 3-number winners and that’s 50 bucks each. At 18 I got $1,000 for a 4-number winner, and I got 18 3-number winners worth $50 each, so that’s 900 bucks. So I got $1,100 invested and I’ve got a $1,900 return.”

Who knew that simple math could be the key to winning big?

It certainly paid off. Jerry first tried it out by buying $3,600 worth of Winfall tickets and winning $6,300 for the effort. His next try was for $8,000, which he immediately doubled in winnings.

The Winfall game has since been closed down in Michigan so the Selbees have started playing in Massachusetts. In the meantime, Jerry is pleased with the couple’s winnings.

“It is actually just basic arithmetic. 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,” he said.