It’s one of those scenes that just sticks in your brain. You know the one. Walter White, looking like he’s been through a literal war, standing in a dinky New Mexico convenience store. He’s not buying meth chemicals or a burner phone this time. He just wants a lottery ticket. But he isn’t playing for the jackpot. He’s looking for a way to remember exactly where he buried 80 million dollars in the middle of a desert that all looks the same.
The walter white lottery numbers are iconic.
People have been obsessing over these digits since the episode "Buried" first aired back in 2013. Even now, years after the finale, people are still typing them into Google Maps. Some are just curious fans, while others—kinda weirdly—actually think there might be something out there waiting to be dug up. Spoilers: there isn't. But the story behind those numbers is actually way more interesting than just a set of random coordinates.
What are the Walter White lottery numbers exactly?
If you look at the fridge in the White household during the final season, you’ll see that crumpled New Mexico Lottery ticket. The numbers printed on it are: 34, 59, 20, 106, 36, and 52.
At first glance, it looks like a standard "Quick Pick" ticket. Most people in the Breaking Bad universe wouldn't think twice about it. That was the whole point. Walt needed a way to store the location of his money that wouldn't look suspicious if the DEA raided his house. A lottery ticket on a fridge is the ultimate "hiding in plain sight" move.
But these aren't just numbers. They are GPS coordinates. Specifically, they represent:
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- +34° 59' 20" (Latitude)
- -106° 36' 52" (Longitude)
In the show, these coordinates lead Walt back to the Tohajiilee Indian Reservation. This is the exact spot where he and Jesse first cooked in the RV, bringing the whole story full circle. It’s poetic, honestly. It’s the place where Heisenberg was born, and it’s the place where Walt eventually loses everything.
The real-world "Easter Egg" behind the coordinates
Here is the part that usually blows people’s minds. If you take those exact walter white lottery numbers and plug them into Google Maps today, you won’t find yourself in a barren desert. You won't find the Tohajiilee reservation either.
Instead, you’ll find yourself standing in a parking lot.
Specifically, the coordinates lead to Albuquerque Studios (now owned by Netflix). This is the production facility where a huge chunk of Breaking Bad was actually filmed. The creators did this on purpose. They knew fans would try to go find the burial site. By setting the coordinates to the studio, they created a clever meta-joke. It was a "thank you" to the fans, but also a safety measure.
Imagine if the numbers actually led to a remote patch of desert on a reservation. You’d have thousands of people with shovels tearing up the landscape and getting lost in the heat. By pointing the numbers at the studio, Vince Gilligan and the crew kept the treasure hunters in the city and away from any actual danger.
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Why did Walt choose a lottery ticket?
Think about Walt’s mindset at that point in Season 5. He’s paranoid. He knows Hank is onto him. He can’t just write "MONEY IS HERE" on a map.
A lottery ticket is perfect because it’s inherently tied to the idea of "luck" and "fortune." It’s a bitter irony that the man who made millions through chemistry and violence is using a symbol of random chance to protect his legacy.
Also, it’s a brilliant bit of writing. If Skyler saw a scrap of paper with GPS coordinates, she’d ask questions. If the DEA saw it, they’d be at that location in twenty minutes. But a lottery ticket? It’s just another piece of "clutter" on a kitchen fridge. It’s basically invisible.
Common misconceptions about the numbers
There are a few myths that still circulate in the fan community. Let’s clear those up real quick:
"The numbers are the same as the ones from LOST."
Nope. Not even close. The Lost numbers were 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Some people try to find a conspiracy here, but there’s no crossover.🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
"The coordinates lead to Walt’s real-life house."
Definitely not. The "Walter White house" is a real private residence in Albuquerque (and the owners are famously tired of people throwing pizzas on their roof). The coordinates lead to the studio, which is miles away."The numbers have a hidden chemical meaning."
Fans have tried to map the numbers to the periodic table. 34 is Selenium, 59 is Praseodymium, etc. While Breaking Bad loves science Easter eggs, this one seems like a reach. The producers have pretty much confirmed the coordinates were chosen specifically for the studio location.
Actionable steps for fans visiting Albuquerque
If you're heading to New Mexico to do a "Breaking Bad" tour, you can actually visit the area where the coordinates point, but don't expect a desert trek.
- Check out the Studios: You can drive by Albuquerque Studios (5650 University Blvd SE). You can't usually go inside without an appointment, but you can see where the magic happened.
- Visit Tohajiilee (Safely): The actual filming location for the burial is on the Tohajiilee Indian Reservation. It's beautiful, but it's private land. If you go, stay on public roads and be respectful of the Navajo Nation.
- The "Lotto" Souvenir: Many gift shops in Albuquerque sell replica lottery tickets with the walter white lottery numbers. It's a cheap, cool souvenir that looks exactly like the one from the show.
The numbers are more than just a plot device. They represent the moment Walt realized his money was his only remaining "win," even as his life was falling apart. He was betting everything on those six numbers, hoping they would buy his family a future he wouldn't be around to see.
To see the exact spot for yourself, open Google Maps and paste 34 59 20, -106 36 52 into the search bar. Switch to satellite view. You’ll see the rooftops of the stages where some of the best television in history was made.