Tayeb Souami’s life changed forever on a simple errand run in 2018
Imagine leaving home to return a $5 bottle of orange juice and coming back a multi-millionaire. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, this unbelievable twist of fate actually happened to Tayeb Souami, a man from New Jersey, back in May 2018.
What started as an ordinary day for the 56-year-old turned into a life-altering event. Souami, who worked as an accountant for a food import company at the time, was living a modest life with his wife and two children. The family, like many others, was trying to save money and stick to a strict budget.
One afternoon, Souami returned home with a carton of orange juice he’d purchased. However, his wife was unimpressed with the cost. “This is too expensive,” she told him firmly, referring to the $5 price tag. She insisted he return it and find something more affordable.
Reluctantly, Souami got back in his car and drove to the ShopRite in Hackensack to return the juice. Little did he know, this quick errand would turn into the greatest moment of his life.
A Spur-of-the-Moment Decision Changes Everything
As he waited in line at the store, something caught Souami’s eye. A commercial promoting the latest Powerball jackpot flashed on a nearby screen. The staggering amount on display tempted him. Despite knowing their financial situation, he thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
With the refund from the orange juice, he purchased two lottery tickets. At that moment, it seemed like just a small gamble. After all, what were the chances of winning?
When Souami got home, he stashed the tickets away and went to bed without giving them another thought. The next day, as he was running errands and visiting a carwash, he remembered his tickets and decided to check them.
Stopping by a 7-Eleven, he scanned the first ticket. Nothing. A loser. Disheartened, he thought about how he would explain this unnecessary expense to his wife. Then he scanned the second ticket—and everything changed.
The Moment That Changed His Life
Instead of the usual “not a winner” message, the machine displayed: “Must be seen by the retailer.” Confused and thinking there might be an issue with the ticket, he took it to the cashier.
The cashier’s reaction said it all. “Oh my god, oh my god!” she exclaimed, and then revealed the incredible news: Souami had won the $315 million Powerball jackpot.
In utter disbelief, Souami realized he had just gone from budgeting for orange juice to being a multi-millionaire.
A Life Transformed
News of Souami’s unbelievable win quickly spread, and he later appeared at a press conference to share his story. He revealed his plans for the money, emphasizing his intention to secure his children’s future. At the time, his son was 20 and his daughter was 17, and Souami wanted to ensure their education was fully paid for.
With a sense of humor about the surreal experience, he joked, “I love orange juice now.”
And who wouldn’t? After all, it’s not every day that a $5 bottle of juice leads to a $315 million jackpot.
This once-in-a-lifetime story reminds us all that even the most mundane errands can sometimes lead to extraordinary outcomes.