From Lyft Ride to Lottery Fortune: A $5 Tip Transforms Into $150,000

In a tale that twists fate with fortune, a Virginia Beach man’s casual day of earning extra cash through Lyft took a spectacular turn. Following a day’s work, Ryan Pasch, armed with a $5 tip from a satisfied customer, ventured to a local gas station for a routine fill-up. On a spontaneous decision, he purchased a “Strike It Rich” scratch-off ticket.

The odds stacked against him were formidable, a daunting 1 in 1,224,000. However, destiny had a different plan for Pasch. At a 7-Eleven, while scratching off his ticket, Pasch’s disbelief turned to sheer excitement as he discovered he had won the $150,000 top prize.

“I was pretty stoked!” Pasch exclaimed, recounting the moment he realized his windfall to lottery officials. His win was significant for him and marked the conclusion of the “Strike It Rich” game, as per Virginia Lottery’s policy to close a game once the last top prize is claimed.

Captured in a celebratory photo, Pasch is seen beaming, a large check in hand, symbolizing a personal victory and a boon to his community. The Virginia Lottery noted that Pasch’s win comes as his hometown of Virginia Beach benefited from almost $34.9 million in lottery funds allocated to support local K-12 educational initiatives in the latest fiscal year.