A Park Ridge Shell gas station is swimming in good fortune after selling a Lotto ticket that hit a $10.4 million jackpot. The winning ticket was snagged for the February 1 draw, transforming one lucky Illinoisan into an overnight millionaire.

The Shell station, sitting at 2301 West Touhy Avenue, is also cashing in, with a $104,000 seller's bonus – that's a cool one percent kickback from the gigantic prize. The gas station's owner, Mohammed Menoor, couldn't hold back his excitement. In an interview with NBC Chicago, he said, "This morning, I told each customer, ‘Someone won big, check your tickets.’ Sure enough, someone came forward, and you should have seen their face – they were clearly shocked." He shared similar sentiments with WGN-TV, reveling in the winner's disbelief.

With all six numbers on the ticket matching the magic combination for Thursday's Lotto – 12-23-36-39-41-48 – dreams came true and bill collectors were put on hold. As Menoor told WGN-TV, "This could not have happened at a better time. I’m behind on some bills and this bonus will allow me to catch up. This is a big relief."

The tide of good luck was widespread, with the Illinois Lottery confirming more than 51,000 winning tickets for Thursday's drawing. As reported by NBC Chicago, the wins are part of over 670,000 triumphant tickets sold in 2024, amounting to over $13.5 million in prizes. With thrice weekly draws, the Lotto continues to be an Illinois-exclusive affair, making local dreams a vivid reality.

The newly-minted millionaire has a year up their sleeve to claim the booty, according to the Illinois Lottery guidelines. While the identity of the winner remains shrouded in mystery, the story certainly paints a picture of hope – because sometimes, just sometimes, life deals out a wild card of fortune.