This Genius Couple Has Been Winning Jackpots For A Decade, Here's How
Jerry and Marge Selbee, a retired couple from the United States, have been consistently winning lottery jackpots for nearly a decade, claiming to have discovered a legal loophole in 2003. Leveraging basic arithmetic, the couple cracked the code for winning and amassed over $26 million (approximately Rs 200 crore) in lottery prizes.
Loophole in the state lottery?
After selling their convenience store, the Selbees stumbled upon a new lottery game called Winfall. Jerry noticed a distinctive feature, the 'rolldown,' in the game's brochure. Unlike other lotteries where the jackpot grows until claimed, Winfall's jackpot would roll down if it reached $5 million without a winner, redistributing the money among those who matched fewer numbers. This unique feature became the linchpin of the Selbees' successful lottery strategy.
That feature was called a "Rolldown", and the lottery announced when it was coming. Unlike the Mega Millions games you've probably heard of where the jackpot keeps building until someone hits all six numbers and wins the big prize, in Winfall, if the jackpot reached $5 million, and no one matched all six numbers, all the money 'rolled down' to the lower-tier prize winners, dramatically boosting the payouts of those who matched five, four or three numbers.
Jerry's genius calculation??
Jerry, who has a bachelor¡¯s degree in mathematics from Western Michigan University, quickly calculated the probabilities mentally and realised that purchasing a certain number of tickets would ensure a profit.
In a conversation with 60 Minutes, he explained, ¡°If I played $1100, mathematically I¡¯d have one four-number winner ¨C that¡¯s 1000 bucks. I divided 1100 by six instead of 57, because I did a mental quick dirty, and I came up with 18. So I knew I¡¯d have either 18 or 19 three-number winners, and that¡¯s 50 bucks each. At 18, I got $1000 for a four-number winner, and I got 18 three-number winners worth $50 each, so that¡¯s 900 bucks. So I got $1100 invested and I¡¯ve got a $1900 return. It¡¯s just basic arithmetic."
Once when the man shared the lottery¡¯s secret with his wife, they went on to play these games using over hundreds of thousands of dollars. Approximately 7 times annually, the couple dedicated roughly 10 days, investing around 10 hours daily, carefully organising their lottery tickets.
Amassed millions with his "basic arithmetic"?
When a rolldown was announced, Jerry sprang into action. He bought $3,600 in Winfall tickets and won $6,300. Then he bet $8,000 and nearly doubled it. "We played $515,000 and we got back $853,000," Jerry said.
After the closure of the Winfall game in Michigan, the Selbees discovered a similar lottery game in Massachusetts with comparable rules. With their strategy, they continued amassing millions. The couple chose to use their winnings for home renovations and to support the education expenses of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Despite accumulating significant wealth, the Selbees maintained a simple lifestyle, opting for meals at their local restaurant, refraining from purchasing luxury cars, and avoiding vacations.
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