The holder of a $45 million California SuperLotto Plus ticket, which was purchased at a Calabasas Shell station, came forward Monday, lottery officials said.
Lee Jarrett claimed the jackpot, saying he just realized that he was holding the winning ticket from last Wednesday's drawing.
"I checked the Lottery's Web site around 3 a.m. and then I just stared at the ticket for 20 to 30 minutes, making sure I had the right draw date and that all the numbers really matched and that I wasn't imagining it," Jarrett said.
Jarrett, who bought the ticket at Oak Shell at 22295 Mulholland Highway, took the cash option, meaning he will receive about $22.5 million before taxes.
The winning ticket matched all six numbers drawn that were: 7, 15, 23, 27, 44 and Mega number 19. Sami Hadad, the owner of the Shell station, will receive a $225,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The bonus is equal to half of 1 percent of the jackpot. He said he would use the money to pay off a motor home he just bought and bolster his daughter's college fund.
Jarrett said he shared a bottle of champagne with some friends after realizing he had won. He said he already had some idea about how to spend the money.
"I plan on saving 99 percent of it and investing, although I may splurge on a second car, maybe a convertible," he said.
The odds of picking all five numbers and the Mega number is 41,416,353 to 1, according to the California Lottery Web site.
He does not even have to touch the principal amount. Interest alone on the principal, even at a conservative rate of 5% is more than enough for a new lifestyle. So in effect, he can save 100% of his winnings. If he were even more aggressive in his investing, he'll have more than when he started.
Congratulations to Mr. Jarrett !!
"I hope he doesn't have financial problems later in life".
DD
How many tickets? QP's?
sirbrad...from the CA Lottery website:
doesn't play regularly, once every six months, this purchase was an impluse buy, stopped to buy gas and bought tickets on a whim, $5, all quick picks.
I thought so, thanks. I wish I could win that much playing only once every six months on a whim. Sure would beat losing EVERY month.
Congratulations to the winner.
How can he save 99% of the fortune? New house, new car, the list will goes on after the shock of winning lottery jackpot.
He does not even have to touch the principal amount. Interest alone on the principal, even at a conservative rate of 5% is more than enough for a new lifestyle. So in effect, he can save 100% of his winnings. If he were even more aggressive in his investing, he'll have more than when he started.
cfsb...you are so right! Here are the numbers;
The intial lump-sum of $22.5 million would net out $14,625,000 per year after Federal taxes of 35%.
Invest that at a conservative 5% rate and it would net him $407,306 after 35% Federal Income Tax and 9.3% CA state income tax.
The above is with maximim taxes applied. Certainly a tax professional and a financial advisor could do even better.
thanks for pointing out. Money makes money.