Man’s Very Specific Soda Craving Ended Up Winning Him a 6-Digit Lottery Jackpot: ‘Unreal’

A simple craving for a favorite drink turned into a six-figure payday for Gastonia, North Carolina, resident Albert Clinton Jr.

Clinton was out searching for a limited-edition Shirley Temple 7-Up when he stopped at the S’Mart on Bessemer City Road, according to a press release from the North Carolina Education Lottery. Along with the special soda, he decided to buy a $2 Bingo Bucks Fast Play ticket at the counter.

At that moment, the Bingo Bucks jackpot was $573,070. Because his ticket cost $2, Clinton won 20% of the progressive prize, bringing his total haul to $114,614.

“It was an unreal feeling,” he told lottery officials.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, Clinton visited the state lottery headquarters to claim his prize. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $82,236, the release noted.

The timing of the win felt especially fortunate, Clinton shared, with the holiday season fast approaching. His goal for the money is simple: to “have a good Christmas with his family,” he told lottery officials.

The odds of winning 20% of the Bingo Bucks jackpot — the top prize for the game — are 1 in 320,000, according to lottery statistics. Fast Play jackpots like Bingo Bucks grow progressively with every ticket purchased.

The soda that helped set this lucky chain of events in motion, Shirley Temple 7Up, is a limited-edition drink inspired by the classic mocktail. Traditionally, a Shirley Temple is made by mixing lemon-lime soda (such as 7Up) with grenadine for a sweet, nonalcoholic treat.

After a popular run last year, 7Up brought the special soda back again this year, per AllRecipes.