• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Family

Mother wins $1.4 million lottery using child's birthday numbers

1:16
Lucky teachers win $1 million lottery in Kentucky
Lucky Day Lotto- Illinois Lottery
ByMason Leib
March 13, 2024, 9:34 PM

The strategy for picking lottery numbers can run the gamut of superstition, ranging from lucky numbers to keeping the same picks through the years.

One mother found success using her child's birthdate to select the five lucky numbers that helped her win $1.4 million last week in the Lucky Day Lotto jackpot, part of the Illinois Lottery.

According to a release from the Illinois Lottery, the woman, nicknamed "Lucky Mom," said she found out the news after waking up to tend to her crying baby.

PHOTO: A mother won $1.4 million from the Illinois lottery using her kids' birthdays as winning numbers
A mother won $1.4 million from the Illinois lottery using her kids' birthdays as winning numbers.
Lucky Day Lotto- Illinois Lottery

"My baby woke up crying, and after tucking them back into bed, I had trouble falling back asleep. So to pass the time, I opened the lottery app on my phone, and I couldn't believe it when it showed that I had just won $1.4 million! Absolutely wackadoodle," she said in a statement included in the release.

Related Articles

MORE: After years of playing same numbers, school staffers win $1 million lottery prize

"I've played Lucky Day Lotto here and there, and when I do, I use my kids' birthdays as my lucky numbers," she said.

The winning numbers, which were selected in the evening drawing on March 6, were 6, 8, 16, 17 and 20.

Editor’s Picks

Pros and cons of Mega Millions office pools

  • Oct 22, 2018

Mom describes shock of winning $2M after paying for daughter's cancer treatment

  • Apr 14, 2023

After years of playing same numbers, school staffers win $1 million lottery prize

  • Feb 01, 2024

Speaking about her win, "Lucky Mom" said, "I have the best job in the world: I'm a stay at home mom, and I already feel very lucky and blessed for where I'm at in life -- but today, the word 'lucky' took on a whole new meaning."

Related Articles

MORE: Mom describes shock of winning $2M jackpot after paying for daughter's cancer treatment

She said she joked with her husband afterward about revealing which child's birthday translated to the lucky number selection.

"After I won, I asked my husband 'Do you want to know which kid's birthday helped us win the jackpot?'" she recalled asking her husband.

Related Topics

  • Lottery

Editor’s Picks

Pros and cons of Mega Millions office pools

  • Oct 22, 2018

Mom describes shock of winning $2M after paying for daughter's cancer treatment

  • Apr 14, 2023

After years of playing same numbers, school staffers win $1 million lottery prize

  • Feb 01, 2024

Up Next in Family—

Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming says she feels 'profoundly sad' on Father's Day

June 15, 2025

Over 18,000 Bugaboo high chairs voluntarily recalled due to potential fall hazard

June 13, 2025

New car seat regulations go into effect next year: What parents should know

June 13, 2025

Christie Brinkley opens up about raising kids in the spotlight: 'The toughest'

June 11, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News