An Unforgettable Coffee Break: Idaho Man Discovers His $1 Million Raffle Win

An Ordinary Day with an Extraordinary Twist

Picture this - a regular Joe, enjoying his morning coffee at his usual spot, the local convenience store. As he sips his steaming cup of joe, he decides to check out his pile of lottery tickets. Little does he know, life as he knows it is about to change dramatically.

Such was the case for Sean Klingler, a long-time lottery player and sixth-generation Idahoan. He was blissfully unaware that one of the tickets from his collection marked him as one of the $1 million top prize winners in the Idaho Lottery's annual $1,000,000 Raffle.

The Moment That Changed Everything

"I was at the local store having coffee and started checking some of my lottery tickets," recalled Klingler. "I had eight Raffle tickets, and when the clerk checked them, she told me I had won $100,000. I didn't believe her. I thought maybe it was $100."

But the excitement didn't stop there. The clerk swiftly corrected herself with a gasp, "'No, I got it wrong; you won $1,000,000!' There was a lot of high fiving in the store after that!" he remembered.

Klingler immediately signed the winning ticket and dialed his wife and daughter on speakerphone. He wanted others present at his lucky spot to confirm the unbelievable news to his family.

"Nobody believes you at first; they think you're messing with them. That's why we're taking a lot of pictures here. The big check will help, too," Klingler remarked, still in awe of his good fortune.

Claiming the Prize and Looking Ahead

Without wasting any time, Klingler and his family traveled to the Lottery headquarters in Boise to claim the prize on December 30. He emphasized that he intends to use his winnings responsibly and wisely.

"I've been playing the Lottery for a long time," Klingler shared during the prize reception. "You dream about winning, and when it finally comes true, it's weird."

His plans include paying off high-interest debts, buying a new car for his wife, and saving the majority for his future retirement.

Still More Winners Out There

Interestingly, another top prize winner from Kootenai County remains unknown. The owner of the $1 million winning ticket number 326200 has yet to come forward. Another ticket number 271072 won a $100,000 prize in Payette County and also remains unclaimed.

The Idaho Lottery encourages all players to check their tickets for potential wins. After all, as Sean Klingler's experience shows, you never know when an ordinary day can turn extraordinary.