2006 Lotto winner speaks to ABC-7 about life after the win

Martha Cuellar remembers the day like it was yesterday — the day she became a millionaire.

“It’s a feeling that you don’t believe for a while. You feel numb. It’s like ‘no? yeah? no?’ At first I thought I was going to faint but I said ‘no I just won’,” Cuellar said.

The mother of three also remembers the struggles she endured before that amazing day.

“I had three jobs to support my son who was in college. I had two rents, two car payments,” Cuellar said.

After taxes Cuellar walked away with $39 million.

She donated money to St. Jude,s and The El Paso Children’s Hospital

She’s also invested in businesses — one beingPosh Bridal.

“It’s a blessing from upstairs and for everybody who I have helped, it’s been out of my heart to bless them,” Cuellar said.

But Cuellar told ABC-7 there has been a down side. Three years ago her husband died.

“I’ve lost a lot of friends … you know who your true friends are,” Cuellar said.

Cuellar says money does change some things.

“I mean, if you’re strong or if you’ve been humble it doesn’t change you but the people around you change,” Cuellar told ABC-7

Cuellar’s daughter, Renee, is also owner of Posh Bridal. She says it’s important to stay grounded.

“I’ve seen on Facebook these past couple of days ‘I would do this, I would do that.’
The funny thing is that was me many years ago but when it happens and it hits you, you don’t do anything you said you would do,” Renee Cuellar said.

“You don’t forget where you come from and it’s more about giving other people opportunities,” added Renee

Cuellar has some advice for would-be winners.

“Be grateful to God first of all and just be careful with people around you and make right decisions,” Cuellar said.