Brier Couple Win $12 Million Lotto Jackpot

BRIER, WA — "Oh, my God. They're talking about us!" A Brier couple recently came forward to claim the largest Washington Lotto jackpot seen over the past 10 years, according to Lotto officials.

The couple, who asked to remain anonymous, said they bought their ticket July 3 at Brier Grocery, 23607 Brier Rd. The next day, they found they'd won $12.2 million.

"We're shocked. This is an unbelievable experience," the couple told lottery officials. "My husband and I always tease one another saying, 'You'll win one of these days.' It finally happened!"

The couple said they don't typically share the same luck, and that the wife most often purchases the lotto tickets. On this particular occasion, however, the husband brought the winner home.

"I saw the lotto jackpot was getting bigger and bigger," the wife said, noting she'll ask her husband to buy tickets when she's unavailable. "My husband said, 'It's better that you get it, so if you are destined to win then it's you and not me. I'm just going to ruin it for you.'

"After 8 p.m. I checked my ticket," she continued. "I woke my husband and said, 'Get up! You have to verify these numbers for me!' The next day, we went to breakfast to celebrate."

Unsure of how to take on such a bountiful prize, the couple said they spent the following days consulting a Certified Public Accountant and attorney.

"The other day, my husband saw on the news that the winner hadn't claimed their prize yet," she said. "We said, 'Oh, my God. They're talking about us!'"

The couple said they don't have any big plans for the money at the moment, but they'll likely buy a new car to replace their 20-year-old vehicle.

"That's the only splurge we'll do," she said. "We're very simple people."

Proceeds from Washington’s Lottery benefit the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, providing grants to college students statewide.

To learn more about Washington’s Lottery, its beneficiaries and to review all up-to-date winning numbers, please visit www.walottery.com.