Back to Work for $1M Lotto Winner

Some dream of vacation. Some dream of quitting work all together.

But stay-at-home mom Jennifer Elrod of Summerville dreams of working again, and daycare is expensive. The money she won through the S.C. Education Lottery's Diamond Millionair Second-Chance Promotion will likely put her children in daycare so she can work again, she told the lottery.

In November, Elrod won the prize entering non-winning Diamond Millionaire 10th Anniversary scratch-offs in the Lottery’s Diamond Millionaire Second-Chance Promotion. One of her $10 tickets was selected from the more than 1 million entries received to win the grand prize.

“I cried when I found out,” she said. 

Her husband Mike restrained his emotions until he held the check for $680,000 after taxes.

“This is wild,” he said.

Jennifer Elrod called her husband at work first thing after learning she won. When he answered, he thought something was wrong. 

“I’d never heard her voice sound like that,” he said. She later joked it was her millionaire voice.

Until that moment, the most Jennifer had ever won playing the Lottery was $500 on a $2 scratch-off last Christmas. This Christmas is going to be even more special for the couple’s two small children.

The adults have started making their wish list. At the top is a trip to Germany to visit family. The Elrods are paying off their house. As for Jennifer, she’s thinking about putting the kids in daycare and going back to work. 

“I get on to her for playing the Lottery,” Mike Elrod said. “I’ve never bought a ticket.”

Jennifer Elrod can now say she’s played the Lottery and lost but still came out a winner.

“I’ve had my moment,” she said. “It feels weird to be called a millionaire.”