A company Christmas party white elephant holiday gift exchange in December 2022 netted Kentucky woman Lori Janes $175,000. Janes had originally grabbed a TJ MAXX gift card, but when another partygoer chose that from her according to the rules they had set up, she pivoted and took her chances on $25 worth of Kentucky Lottery scratch-off tickets. Immediately, she came out ahead when the first ticket prized her $50.

As she scratched off the numbers on the “Hit the Jackpot” ticket, her fellow workers knew something was up when Janes started screaming uncontrollably. It was only until she ran herself hoarse that everyone saw what the hubbub was about. In her open palm was an amazing sight: Janes had won the top prize of $175,000!

The heck with that $25 TJ MAXX gift card, right? Our money says she’ll be sure to attend the company’s next Christmas gift exchange. No one’s letting her get the scratch off ticket for 2023 if they can get their hands on that first!