Friday the 13th: the stories of people who were lucky on this day

$1.35 billion - and that's not a typo

On January 13, 2023, a single Mega Millions ticket was purchased in Maine. The jackpot is $1.35 billion. The winner remained anonymous, taking the money through a trust fund, but the fact remains that one of the largest lottery wins in U.S. history came on Friday the 13th.

This is not an isolated incident. According to Mega Millions, seven jackpots were won on Friday the 13th. The state of Michigan was especially “yielding” – four such wins were recorded there (in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017). And in 2023, the third largest prize in the history of the game - 1.348 billion - went to Maine on January 13.

A mortgage that ended with a wedding

Alexander came to the real estate agency to apply for a mortgage. Natalia, an employee of the agency, approached the matter with extraordinary care: she asked about each item, checked every line. Colleagues laughed: "Why so detailed?" Natalia smiled in response: "I choose candidates for suitors for myself.".

The joke was prophetic. Interest arose even before buying an apartment. On the New Year Alexander invited Natalia to Sochi, and then made an offer. The wedding was played on Friday the 13th. Natalia agreed without hesitation - she studied the questionnaire properly.

"Thirteenth" call sign

Vasily Karpov from Shatura near Moscow fought in the SVO zone. His call sign was "Thirteenth." The number, which for many is considered unlucky, did not bring him failure. On September 13, 2024, he married Oksana. The couple met in the pioneer camp, then fate brought them together again – by chance, many years later.

I took part in the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict, then I was at the SVO, my call sign was Thirteenth. And this number did not bring me failures, for me it is happy, Vasily explained the choice of the date.

Children born on Friday the 13th

The American edition asked readers about their stories related to this date. As a child and even an adult, I was afraid of Friday the 13th. On August 13, 1999, my youngest son was born. Since then, I've never considered this day unlucky - now it's a very good day for me.

Another reader, named Jason, was born on Friday the 13th in August 1971. I am often asked if I am named after a character in the film. I have to explain that I was born at least eight years before the first movie came out. I am the original Jason, he wrote.

Another story: the reader's daughter was born on Friday the 13th, with a full moon, in room number 213. "Friday the 13th was my blessed day," she concluded.

What's behind this

All these stories have one thing in common: people did not expect a bad date – and did not get it. Psychologists call this confirmation bias: if a person is negative, they will remember a burned light bulb and a late bus, and a good one will miss. If you are otherwise set up, you will notice a win, a meeting or a hat inherited from the robber.

Friday the 13th is neither good nor bad. It just exists - once every few months. And sometimes with a jackpot.