She Won the Lottery—Then Walked Away from Marriage and the Corporate Grind
After winning the lottery, Alyssa Mosley didn’t splurge on designer bags or fast cars. Instead, she made a bold choice: she pressed pause, reassessed everything, and chose herself.
The New York City-based 20-something, who scored her windfall by purchasing a ticket in a state that allows winners to remain anonymous, says the decision to go public wasn’t immediate. But a friend’s encouragement changed that. “They told me, ‘Your story is rare. You should share it,’” Mosley recalled in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE Magazine.
Since then, she has built a TikTok audience of more than 31,000 followers who tune in to her “Day in the Life” videos, which are far from flashy, as she shares her experiences as a lottery winner. It’s reflective. Grounded. Intentional.
“I think it's sort of been spiritual, the things that I've learned about money and fulfillment,” she shared. “Obviously, money helps to solve problems…but it is not going to make your life 1,000 percent perfect and make every single day an amazing day.”
Before her win, Mosley was working hard in New York's competitive fashion industry. She now credits that hustle with giving her a strong foundation: “I’ve had different working experiences, and I understand what life was like before and after [the win]. I feel grateful to have that grounding.”
Instead of chasing status symbols, she’s using her resources to rediscover joy in hobbies like running, painting, and sewing. She’s even training for a half-marathon. “If I do spend money, I try to do it on hobbies and experiences rather than just physical, material things,” she said.
Many of her followers call her content relatable, especially when it doesn’t have to be in a social media era punctuated by expensive lifestyles. For reference, the cost of living in New York is significantly higher than the national average, particularly in the city. Housing is the most significant expense, followed by utilities, groceries, and healthcare. For a single person, the cost of living in NYC without rent is approximately $ 1,678.80, while for a family of four, it's around $ 6,217.80, also excluding rent.
Mosley’s decision to live her life more intentionally led to a life-altering decision in her romantic life. Days before she and her partner were supposed to elope in Las Vegas, Mosley called it off. The win didn’t just change her finances — it changed her outlook on love, marriage, and independence.
“In my 20s and financially independent, I just didn't feel like getting legally tied to someone,” she said. “It felt like something I needed to let go of to grow.”
Her daily practice of gratitude, journaling, and spiritual reflection keeps her grounded. “I wake up every day and thank God for everything I have. I find that the more grateful I am, it closes that gap of ‘wanting.’”
