Couple lining up for food banks become overnight millionaires – what they want to do with the money will surprise you
For as long as they can remember Madeline and Bernie have struggled financially.
Their family relied on the generosity of others, lining up for food banks but that all changed when luck had its way and Bernie turned a $20 scratchie into a US$5 million (AU$7.7 million) fortune.
You can hear Madeline and Bernie's full heartwarming story in the video above.
Madeline and Bernie's lives changed forever after they won $7.7 million. 9Now
Now the Florida couple and their adult son were on the hunt for their forever house and enlisted the help of My Lottery Dream Home's David Bromstad.
Madeline, who is affectionately known as Peanut, told David about her family's story.
Stream episodes of My Lottery Dream Home for free on 9Now.
"We struggled in the past but we kept helping. We are people that stretch out to our community that say 'Hey, I got a bowl of rice for everybody'," she said.
"We were in food lines so now being able to go to the grocery store and buy somebody some food, there's nothing like it." she cried
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For their son, the family winning the money "was like a burden lifted".
"To see mum this happy is just amazing to me," he beamed.
After helping their community, Madeline and Bernie were ready to splash on themselves. 9Now
Despite winning millions, Madeline and Bernie had a modest budget of US$350,000 (AU$540,000) but were going to buy their first family home all in cash!
Host David thought it was about time that these givers finally take care of themselves and he was ready to help them look for their forever home.
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"I love these stories, you know what I love about them the most? Could they afford a million dollar home? Yes. But do they want one or need one? No. That's some good karma right there," David said to cameras.
Viewers of the show were thrilled to see Madeline and Bernie make their dreams come true.
"What a lovely deserving family," one fan wrote.
While another said, "These are literally the most humble people I've ever seen on this show so far. So glad they won!"
Viewers named the couple "the most humble people ever on the show". 9Now
David took Madeline and Bernie to their first possible home, a three-bedroom Regatta Ridge home that came in underbudget at US$300,000 (AU$463,000).
Walking around the couple were gobsmacked by the fact that they could be at home with an ensuite.
See the full house tour in the video below:
Next up was a new build in Pablo Creek. The couple were floored by all the dazzling finishes and Bernie was smitten with the generously sized entertainer's kitchen.
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Bernie instantly fell in love with this entertainer's kitchen. 9Now
Could the couple see themselves living in Pablo Creek? 9Now
Last on the tour was a double-storey house in Tanglewood Trail with a very homey feel and more than enough space for all the guests Madeline and Bernie planned to have over.
Would this two-storey home serve Madeline and Bernie's needs? 9Now
To see which of the three houses Madeline and Bernie eventually bought watch 'Ep 10 Pensacola Peanuts' of Season 16 of My Lottery Dream Home on 9Now.
Stream episodes of My Lottery Dream Home for free on 9Now.
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