In a story that feels straight out of a movie, a New Jersey man turned a simple errand into life-changing fortune.
Tayeb Souami, 56, an accountant from Little Ferry, followed his wife’s advice to return a $5 bottle of orange juice she deemed “too expensive.” That decision ultimately led to a $315 million Powerball jackpot.
Souami made the trip back to the ShopRite in Hackensack to return the juice, and while there, he noticed the Powerball jackpot was climbing, per the Washington Post.
Using his refund, he purchased two lottery tickets on a whim. What seemed like an ordinary day soon became one for the books.
A few days later, while at a car wash, Souami remembered the tickets and decided to check them at a nearby 7-Eleven. The first ticket showed nothing, but the second one produced an unusual message: “Must be seen by the retailer.” Intrigued, he handed it over to the cashier.
The reaction was immediate. “Oh my god, oh my god,” the cashier exclaimed, telling him that he had won “very big.” Souami, still in disbelief, went home and began comparing his ticket to the winning numbers online. Realizing they were an exact match, he recounted thinking, “This can’t be true.”
At a press conference, the father of two shared his shock and excitement. Souami explained that he planned to use his winnings to pay off debts and invest in his children’s education. Reflecting on the remarkable sequence of events, he quipped, “I love orange juice now.”
He opted for the lump sum payout, which after taxes came to approximately $210.8 million. This decision ensured immediate financial security for his family.
What makes this story resonate is its sheer unpredictability. A mundane errand—returning a bottle of juice—became the stepping stone to unimaginable wealth. It’s the kind of luck most people only dream of, proving that even the smallest actions can lead to incredible outcomes.
Souami’s story quickly went viral, inspiring people worldwide to take a second look at life’s seemingly ordinary moments. As for him, he’s planning to enjoy every drop of his new-found fortune—likely with a fresh glass of orange juice in hand.
