Back in 1987 Publishers Clearing House awarded its first-ever $10 Million SuperPrize. Because no PCH prize before then had approached such magnitude there was tremendous excitement among our employees and hopeful anticipation among millions of Americans who had sent in their sweepstakes entries.
I remember as if it was yesterday the day of the prize drawing and learning that the $10 Million winner lived in nearby New Jersey, not that far away from our Long Island, NY headquarters. We decided that such big news should not be imparted with a phone call; so off we went across the Hudson River — with paperwork and a “first installment” check — to prove that we were “for real.” (This was about two years before we started the now-famous PCH Prize Patrol; so we didn’t have flowers, balloons, a big cardboard check or a video camera with us.)
It was dark when we arrived at the winner’s home – in a modest apartment complex just outside Newark, NJ. We rang the doorbell and were greeted by a startled young man in his underwear – clearly not the winner “Barbara Armellino” we were looking to surprise. He told us his name was John and then called Barbara, his wife, to the door where she was given the truly life-changing news. Pandemonium ensued – while their 8-month old baby Michael slept peacefully through it all. Family members gathered for a celebration and prayers of thanks, and then we went to a nearby hotel for a hastily called press conference and TV appearance in New York City the next morning.
While Barbara and John both had decent jobs, money was tight. Barbara recalls the first post-win luxury: sending laundry out to professionals rather than using the coin-fed washer-dryer in the complex’s dark basement. Their lifestyle changed dramatically – with the move to a beautiful new home in the country, new cars, more leisure, and Son #2: Daniel. Importantly, financial security enabled Barbara to devote more time to home and family and more resources to her church and community service.
We have stayed in touch over the years, and it was a pleasure to re-connect recently and catch up. Still young at heart and grateful for the blessings, Barbara and John have relocated to sunny Florida. Their sons are now college-educated young men – with no outstanding college loans. John jokes that because the annual payments for the $10 Million prize will soon cease he is hoping the Prize Patrol will knock again, maybe with $5,000 a week for life.
If this sounds like a fairy tale come true, rest assured: it’s a true story. And it could happen to you. Barbara is a positive thinker and would encourage YOU to enter the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes every chance you get. So, do it!
Dave Sayer
Prize Patrol Ambassador
Other blogs you may like:
Throwback Thursday: PCH Celebrates Over 75 Millionaires and Counting!
Do You Believe You Are Meant To Win?
Trying to get there.
I give my consent to PCH to release the forever prize to me. I claim sole ownership on my winning PCH lotto numbers, and matching prize monies as well. I’d gladly accept from my friendly PCH team.
#19500
#19990
#20… Etc..
Got to go thanks, good luck.
I should have won but some one stole my identity. Took everything from me. Every time I went on the PCH app. He used my info and replaced it with his so I had to quit doing entries for the big monies. I hate people who do that. I was in it to win it. I entered every day. I hope he doesn’t, win. He took my tokens from me too. Thats why I never won any prizes. I am very upset over this. I hope I win the ten million I deserve it. Been with PCH a long time.
Hello PCH it’s me LaShawn R. Today is 9/30/2022 if I could win that prize of 10 million dollars this is what I would do first: I would be crying and thanking PCH for my winnings then I would help a charity out a homeless shelter because that where I came from but I would always help with St. Jude hospital. I would love to help homeless people and cancer people that run in my family. Then I would get that #dreamhome I always wanted I see y’all show on your website. I would start my business, I don’t want to say the name of it on here I know everyone would love it. I would make sure my daughters have some money in their account make sure my grandson has money put to the side for him and college, take a big vacation, invest the rest of it to keep that money rolling in. But yes PCH I do have a big dream for it at one point I was going to give up because of the scams I’ve endorsed on myself thinking that I really won it was 3 times. I really hope you don’t have to pay the Prize Patrol to come to our house that’s how they got me but anyway I pray just like very one else that that knock on my door will be me one day. I think the tickets number for the dream home is 19990 but I’m here in it to win it 🪬💫🙏🏾🫂
Hi Lashawn! The real PCH doesn’t notify our major prize winners via phone, standard mail, email, or social media, and we never ask for money to claim a prize. Please report any details you have about those scam contacts to us at this link: http://bit.ly/Report-Scam-To-PCH. I also encourage you to check out these Safety Tips for some great info on what to watch for: https://bit.ly/FraudProtection2. Stay safe everyone!!
Yes I am going to win a very big check from Publisher’s Clearing House and a TRUCK would be real nice too!!