Scooped second prize on California Lottery

Retired basketball pro and ex-NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has revealed the circumstances behind his $330,000 lottery windfall last week, which saw him donate a portion of the money to a homeless man he met shortly before the win.

Arenas, 38, scooped the second prize in a unique win on the California Lottery (which features a top prize of $248m) over the weekend.

He was delayed in placing his regular weekly numbers for the Mega Millions as he got into a conversation with a homeless man. He explained on Instagram how, despite not being able to play his numbers in person, the local gas station went ahead on his behalf, resulting in the lucky win.

Approached by homeless man

Arenas had set off late to play his numbers last Tuesday. He realized the car was not only low on gas, but that there was only $10 inside. Pulling into a local gas station, he was approached by a homeless man who asked him for change.

Knowing that he only had minutes to get to the store before closing, Arenas told the man he had further to go and needed all the money for gas. However, the ex-NBA star changed his mind and offered to fill the car with $5 so he could donate the other half. When he heard about the journey Arenas still had to make and the lottery deadline, the homeless man refused the money. Instead, he asked for a larger chunk if the retired player won the lottery, saying:

You won’t make it on $5 so keep the $10 and after you win hook me up with $20!”

Asking the homeless man if he was sure, Arenas agreed to the deal but still got to his favorite store too late to play.

Thought winning text was a scam

When he received a text from the store owner the next day saying he had won, Arenas believed it was a scam and so ignored a follow-up text. It wasn’t until he went to play his Powerball numbers that the owner was able to explain that, as they were closing early, they still played the star’s usual numbers in good faith.

Arenas believed it was a scam and so ignored a follow-up text

Arenas’ Instagram post details how he later found the homeless man and rewarded him with more than the original deal. He did not disclose the amount donated. The retired NBA player wrote: “He jumped up and hugged me for a good five minutes crying and then started to pray. I’ve given back to the homeless but was never blessed by one. His good-hearted gesture of me making it back home blessed that ticket.”