Boise, Idaho man Robert Bevan has won lottery prizes 18 times since 1997, but says his greatest luck is 40 years with his wife.
Robert Bevan of Boise, Idaho, has won lottery prizes 18 times over nearly three decades. But as he celebrates 40 years of marriage, he says his greatest success has nothing to do with money.
Bevan recently returned to the Idaho Lottery Winners Lobby to claim a $50,000 prize from the $1,000,000 King Scratch Game, adding another win to an unusual history that dates back to 1997.
His first prize came nearly 30 years ago, when he was one of the winners of an Idaho Lottery “Blazer Bucks” promotion that gave away seven 1997 Chevrolet Blazers across Idaho.
Since then, Bevan has claimed prizes including $200,000, multiple $20,000 wins, $5,000 prizes and several $1,000 wins, according to the Idaho Lottery. His latest $50,000 prize brought his number of wins to 18.
Despite the remarkable run, Bevan does not describe himself as someone with a special strategy for picking winning tickets. He told the Idaho Lottery that buying tickets has simply become something he and his wife have enjoyed doing together over the years, often while stopping for groceries or gas.
This year, the couple is celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, making Bevan’s answer about his greatest piece of luck particularly fitting.
“My real luck is 40 years with the same amazing woman,” Bevan said after collecting his latest prize.
His comment puts the years of lottery wins into a different perspective. While his repeated prizes have brought him substantial amounts of money and other rewards, Bevan considers the lasting relationship he has shared with his wife to be his real good fortune.
His latest win adds another chapter to a streak that began in 1997, but for Bevan, the biggest number associated with his life is not the value of a cheque. It is the 40 years he has spent with the same person.
