

Unfortunately, Ryan Atwood only exists in our dreams, but still, many fans just couldn’t help proclaim Ben Mckenzie’s fan-favorite character the winner of the $1.6 billion lottery on Jan. 13 after it was confirmed one of the winners was from Chino Hills, California. Lovers of The O.C. took to Twitter and completely freaked out in declaring Ryan a fast millionaire. And yes, Ben got back to all of them — with the most amazing tweet ever!
After it was announced that one of the three Jan. 13 lottery winners bought their ticket in Chino Hills, California, fans of The O.C., immediately remembered that our favorite bad boy, Ryan Atwood, hailed from Chino, a suburb with a near-identical name.
But let’s get it right people, Chino Hills is a very different place from just plain Chino — but apparently that’s only a minor detail! Because nonetheless people took to Twitter to express their excitement and hilariously congratulate Ryan on his big win.
Ryan Atwood's finally gonna get out of that pool house. https://t.co/FBCZV92rlt
— Ben Reiter (@SI_BenReiter) January 14, 2016
Not anymore Ryan, not anymore #powerball #RyanAtwood #TheOC pic.twitter.com/IemfQgxd1u
— A.L. (@a_lynn19) January 14, 2016
So happy for Chino local Ryan Atwood on his Powerball winnings… he's suffered through so much.
— Nick Tuths (@Nick_NoHeart) January 14, 2016
Forget the #Powerball jackpot, Ryan Atwood is still the best thing to come out of the Chino area. 💘 pic.twitter.com/VqFfkbwy2H
— Lina Washington (@LWashingtonKGET) January 14, 2016
Somewhere in the O.C. right now, Ryan Atwood is punching a wall. #powerball
— Dee Lockett (@Dee_Lockett) January 14, 2016
The fan love was so strong, even Ryan himself (aka Ben Mckenzie, 37) couldn’t help but respond. He graciously thanked social media for proclaiming him the big winner and ended with a special Chino shoutout, “#chino4eva.” Aww, once from Chino, always from Chino!
Apparently I won #Powerball last night. Thanks social media. #chino4eva
— Ben McKenzie (@ben_mckenzie) January 14, 2016
But even without the jackpot, Ben seems to be doing pretty well these days as he traded in Ryan’s leather jacket for Police Commissioner James Gordon’s bulletproof vest on FOX’s drama, Gotham.
Besides, it’s probably for the best that Ben/Ryan didn’t win. Because come on, we all know what Ryan likes about “rich kids”… “Nothing!”
Tell us HollywoodLifers, were you a part of team Ryan? What do YOU think Ryan Atwood would have done with the jackpot?