Des Moines Man Says He Can Relax Now After Winning Prize Of $1,000 A Day For Life

Iowa’s first top prize winner of $1,000 a day for life in the Lucky for Life® game says his big prize will allow him to move closer to family.

Shelby Willis of Des Moines says his win will change things for himself, his children and his grandchildren. He knows it’s important and he wants to do get right in terms of managing his winnings.

Shelby, who is 64, was born in Iowa, but spent most of his adult life on the East Coast, where both of his daughters and his brother live today. He returned to live in Des Moines 12 years ago to help his father who was in poor health at the time. Now he’s looking to move east again, likely to New Jersey, to be near his family.

His Plans For His Winnings

Shelby says his win means he can relax and he won’t have to be as concerned with finances. He also looks forward to being able to get some important items on his list, including a townhome or condo in New Jersey.

But baseball is also on his mind! Shelby says he’s been a New York Yankees fan since the 1970s, so tickets to see the Bronx Bombers are definitely in his future.

How He Won

Shelby’s ticket matched all six winning numbers in Friday’s Lucky for Life drawing to win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life. The winning numbers that night were: 2-7-19-42-47 and Lucky Ball 4.

He bought his winning easy-pick ticket at QuikTrip, 1501 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines. QuikTrip will receive a $5,000 bonus from the Iowa Lottery for selling the winning ticket.

Instant Retirement

Shelby chose the cash option for his prize, getting a lump-sum payment of $5.75 million.

He says winning has meant “instant retirement” for him. After he realized on Saturday that he’d won big, he quit his job in the security industry.  

Shelby's prize is Iowa’s 22nd overall big winner in Lucky for Life since the game’s January 2016 debut in the state. The other big winners were all at the game’s second prize level of $25,000 a year for life.

Comments

[membry winfield]

WAY TO GO

[Sally Tieskoetter]

Now that is a life story a person loves to read about. So very very happy for Shelby. God Bless him and GO Yankees. Sally T

[Stacy Miller]

Way to go!

[Dale]

good for him!!