Idaho Man's Stern Demeanor Frightens Wife Before Unveiling $1 Million Lottery Victory

Unusual Seriousness Precedes Lottery Win Announcement

When an Idaho man's voice took on a solemn tone, his wife braced herself for bad news. Little did she know, he was about to disclose a staggering $1 million lottery win. A victory in the lottery is no small feat; it's an occasion that calls for unrestrained jubilation. However, this Idaho man’s reaction was so intense, his wife momentarily feared the worst.

Corey Dryden, a resident of Boise, was busy running errands last Friday at Albertsons Marketplace on Broadway when he felt an unexpected urge to try his luck with the lottery. Buoyed by a previous win, he decided to gamble again. "I was picking up some items from the store before the big Boise State game and felt compelled to buy a ticket,” Dryden shared with the Idaho Lottery.

"I had just cashed in a $50 winning ticket and decided to buy another one. This was my first-ever purchase at Albertsons. There was just something telling me I needed to get a ticket there when I collected our groceries,” he added.

A Surprise Million Dollar Win Announced

The ticket he bought hailed from the Lottery’s "$50 $1,000,000 Cash" scratch-off game. After purchasing it, he retreated to his car to scratch off the concealed numbers and scanned the ticket using the Lottery’s mobile app. His heart must've skipped a beat when he discovered that he had won the game’s final top prize of $1 million.

"I dialed my wife to share the news,” Dryden recounted in a press release. "My tone was so grave at first, she thought I was calling with devastating news.”

On Monday afternoon, Dryden claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters in Boise. He informed lottery officials that he intends to invest the winnings for his family's future.

Since Dryden scooped the last available top prize of $1 million in the "$50 $1,000,000 Cash" scratch-off game, the Lottery has discontinued the game. They are currently removing any remaining stock from the shelves, according to a spokesperson. The final day to claim prizes from this game will be June 6, 2026.

As a reward for selling the winning ticket, the retailer receives a hefty bonus commission of $20,000 from the Lottery.