‘Girl, you hit the jackpot.’ Woman to retire early after massive CA Lottery win

A woman playing Triple Red 777 scratcher tickets purchased in Long Beach told a neighbor things weren’t going well, California Lottery officials said.

“I had scratched my five-dollar ones, and I told her ‘I’m not winning!’” Julie Bass said, according to a Tuesday, May 6, news release by the lottery. “She says, ‘Oh Miss Julie, you have two more back there.’”

Bass scratched off a winning ticket, but at first thought she’d won only a free ticket, then a $1,000 prize, she told lottery officials.

It turned out to be much more.

“Look at that!” said her neighbor. “Girl, you hit the jackpot!”

Bass had won $1 million on the scratcher on her 25th work anniversary, prompting her to immediately decide to retire two years ahead of schedule, lottery officials said.

Crediting God for the win, Bass said she didn’t feel like an exceptionally lucky person.

“I feel like I’m an especially blessed person,” she said. Bass said she also plans to buy a house near her daughter with the winnings.

This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM with the headline "‘Girl, you hit the jackpot.’ Woman to retire early after massive CA Lottery win."