> At a Glance
> – Joseph Wheat won $775,000 in the Louisiana Lottery on January 3, 2026
> – He asked his wife to leave work to verify the winning numbers
> – After taxes, he collected $565,750
> – Why it matters: A lifelong player’s routine habit paid off in a life-changing moment
A Bogalusa, Louisiana man kicked off 2026 by turning a routine lottery ritual into a $775,000 windfall-so stunning that he called his wife home from work to verify the ticket.
The Winning Moment
Wheat, a longtime Pick 3 devotee, watched the January 3 drawing from his living room. When the six numbers 01-14-18-20-27-41 appeared, he froze.
He immediately phoned his wife for backup. “I made her come check the ticket to make sure I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing,” he told News Of Los Angeles.
Prize Plans
After state and federal withholdings, Wheat collected $565,750. He plans to:
- Pay off outstanding debt
- Save the remainder for his children and grandchildren
retailer and Lottery Reaction
Wheat bought the ticket at Pine Cash on 26505 Highway 62 in Franklinton. Owner Robbie Michel told local paper The Era-Leader the store has celebrated scratch-off wins before, “but nothing close to this.”
Louisiana Lottery President Rose Hudson celebrated the win: “We love hearing stories like this, especially from players who have been with us for many years.”
Key Takeaways
- A regular Saturday habit turned into a six-figure jackpot
- Wheat’s first reaction was disbelief, not celebration
- The win marks one of the largest in Pine Cash history
Wheat claimed the prize at lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge, closing the first weekend of January with a bank balance-and future-dramatically different from when it began.
