You won’t believe what this man discovered hidden in his car—it made him $50,000 richer!
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We’ve all heard the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” But for one lucky Pennsylvania engineer, that treasure was hiding in plain sight—right under the fast-food wrappers and coffee cups in his own car!
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth checking those old lottery tickets before tossing them, this story might just inspire you to dig a little deeper the next time you clean out your glove compartment.
Meet “Philly Jawn” (an alias), a Philadelphia resident who was simply passing through Maryland on a routine drive. Like many of us, he decided to make a pit stop for snacks—because what’s a road trip without a little treat?
While at Woodlawn Mart in Baltimore County, he picked up a handful of Maryland lottery tickets, tossed them in a bag, and went on his way. Little did he know, that casual purchase would soon turn into a $50,000 windfall.

Fast forward more than a week. Philly Jawn, like many of us, was finally getting around to cleaning out his car. As he sorted through the clutter, he stumbled upon the bag of lottery tickets he’d nearly forgotten.
Before tossing them in the trash, he decided to check the numbers using the Maryland lottery app. And that’s when his ordinary day took an extraordinary turn—one of those tickets was a $50,000 Powerball winner!
“I was ecstatic when I realized I won,” he shared. “I hope this is the first of many wins.” Can you imagine the adrenaline rush? One minute you’re cleaning out your car, the next you’re $50,000 richer!
Philly Jawn isn’t new to the lottery game. He’s been playing for about four years, usually picking numbers that hold personal meaning—family birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates.
While he hasn’t shared the news with his family just yet, he admits the excitement is getting harder to keep under wraps. (We’re betting that secret won’t last much longer!)
As for the winnings, he’s got practical plans: pay off some bills and tuck the rest away for a rainy day. Smart move, Philly Jawn!
Here’s the kicker: Philly Jawn’s ticket was just one number away from the $30 million Powerball jackpot. That’s right—he landed the third-tier prize, but was a single digit shy of a life-altering fortune.
Still, $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at, and it’s a reminder that sometimes, even being 'almost' lucky can be pretty sweet.
Believe it or not, stories like this aren’t as rare as you might think. There have been plenty of folks who’ve found forgotten lottery tickets in coat pockets, glove compartments, or even tucked away in old books—only to discover they were holding onto a small fortune.
One couple even used math to win $25 million from the lottery. While a Walmart worker became a millionaire on a day off!
Let’s be honest: the odds of winning the lottery are slim, but as Philly Jawn’s story shows, you can’t win if you don’t play—and you definitely can’t win if you forget to check your tickets!
According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, millions of dollars in lottery prizes go unclaimed every year. That’s right—money that could be paying off bills, funding vacations, or making dreams come true is left on the table simply because people forget to check their tickets.
Have you ever found a forgotten lottery ticket—or had a close call with a big win? Do you have a lucky number strategy, or a story about a time you almost threw away a fortune? We’d love to hear your tales of luck, near misses, and happy surprises. Share your stories in the comments below and let’s keep the good vibes (and maybe a little luck) rolling!
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth checking those old lottery tickets before tossing them, this story might just inspire you to dig a little deeper the next time you clean out your glove compartment.
Meet “Philly Jawn” (an alias), a Philadelphia resident who was simply passing through Maryland on a routine drive. Like many of us, he decided to make a pit stop for snacks—because what’s a road trip without a little treat?
While at Woodlawn Mart in Baltimore County, he picked up a handful of Maryland lottery tickets, tossed them in a bag, and went on his way. Little did he know, that casual purchase would soon turn into a $50,000 windfall.

Hidden treasure in his car? One man’s discovery leads to unexpected payout. Image source: Vanburn Gonsalves / Unsplash
Fast forward more than a week. Philly Jawn, like many of us, was finally getting around to cleaning out his car. As he sorted through the clutter, he stumbled upon the bag of lottery tickets he’d nearly forgotten.
Before tossing them in the trash, he decided to check the numbers using the Maryland lottery app. And that’s when his ordinary day took an extraordinary turn—one of those tickets was a $50,000 Powerball winner!
“I was ecstatic when I realized I won,” he shared. “I hope this is the first of many wins.” Can you imagine the adrenaline rush? One minute you’re cleaning out your car, the next you’re $50,000 richer!
Philly Jawn isn’t new to the lottery game. He’s been playing for about four years, usually picking numbers that hold personal meaning—family birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates.
While he hasn’t shared the news with his family just yet, he admits the excitement is getting harder to keep under wraps. (We’re betting that secret won’t last much longer!)
As for the winnings, he’s got practical plans: pay off some bills and tuck the rest away for a rainy day. Smart move, Philly Jawn!
Here’s the kicker: Philly Jawn’s ticket was just one number away from the $30 million Powerball jackpot. That’s right—he landed the third-tier prize, but was a single digit shy of a life-altering fortune.
Still, $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at, and it’s a reminder that sometimes, even being 'almost' lucky can be pretty sweet.
Believe it or not, stories like this aren’t as rare as you might think. There have been plenty of folks who’ve found forgotten lottery tickets in coat pockets, glove compartments, or even tucked away in old books—only to discover they were holding onto a small fortune.
One couple even used math to win $25 million from the lottery. While a Walmart worker became a millionaire on a day off!
Let’s be honest: the odds of winning the lottery are slim, but as Philly Jawn’s story shows, you can’t win if you don’t play—and you definitely can’t win if you forget to check your tickets!
According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, millions of dollars in lottery prizes go unclaimed every year. That’s right—money that could be paying off bills, funding vacations, or making dreams come true is left on the table simply because people forget to check their tickets.
Key Takeaways
- A Philadelphia man found out he’d won $50,000 on a Maryland Powerball ticket after forgetting about it and later discovering it while cleaning out his car.
- The lucky punter, who goes by the alias Philly Jawn, bought the winning ticket along with some snacks while passing through Baltimore County.
- The winner said he selects his lottery numbers based on family birthdays, and was ecstatic when he realized his big win, though he hasn’t told his family yet.
- He plans to use the prize money to pay off bills and put the rest into savings, and hopes it’s the first of many lottery wins.