Factory Worker Wins $310 Million Powerball During Lunch Break and Quits Job Immediately

by
Julie Leach

Highlights

  • Julie Leach won $310 million Powerball jackpot during her lunch break.
  • Quit her factory job of 23 years immediately after winning.
  • Plans to support her family and hired a financial advisor.

Discovering the Jackpot

In 2015, Julie Leach from Michigan experienced a life-changing moment during her lunch break. After working at a fiberglass factory for 23 years, she described her job as challenging and unpleasant. However, one night, everything changed when she stopped at a gas station and bought $20 worth of lottery tickets on her way to a night shift.

Julie Leach Quits Job After Winning Powerball Jackpot
Photo: © MichiganLottery

The Moment of Realization

While waiting for her order at a McDonald’s drive-thru around 1am, Julie decided to check her lottery numbers. To her astonishment, she discovered she had won an astounding $310 million Powerball jackpot, which was the second-largest in Michigan’s history at that time. Julie was in disbelief, recounting, “I was having a really bad night at work and thought well I might as well check my numbers while I’m sitting here waiting for my lunch and that’s when I realized I was the winner, I didn’t believe it.”

Immediate Resignation

Upon realizing her massive win, Julie knew her factory days were over. She quit her job on the spot, stating, “I quit automatically, I was done.” She opted for the lump sum payout and walked away with $197.4 million, which amounted to $140 million after taxes.

Plans for the Future

Julie, a grandmother of 11, expressed her desire to use the money to support her family. She said, “I’m going to take care of my kids. I don’t want them to work the way I had to work and deal with the things I had to deal with in life. I want to make it a good life for them and take care of them.” Recognizing the challenges of managing such a large sum, she hired a financial advisor to assist her. Julie admitted, “We’re simple people, we don’t know what to do with money, that kind of money, anyway.”

Keeping Life Simple

Despite the enormous win, Julie and her long-term partner were determined to keep their lives as normal as possible. Her partner emphasized, “We don’t want it different, we want it the same as it was, we’re just going to enjoy it with a little more money.” Julie echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re still the same people,” and jokingly mentioned that her boyfriend would now “need a prenup” if they were to marry.

Julie Leach’s incredible lottery win not only changed her life but also provided her with the means to support her family and secure their future, all while maintaining a humble and grounded outlook.

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