Man, I am really happy for him. He has many years ahead to enjoy his winning.

I am studying Business Major also. I wish that happens on me.

Sometimes I think that only people with a good story about their lottery purchases would win, such as a honey moon trip, a compelling feeling to purchase, advanced prinited-out tickets, birthday numbers. For many times, I wanted to tell my story to the world too. I purchased lottery tickets in a place I loved to visit, Foster City in CA. I purchased lottery when I filled up my tank, when I bought cold medicine for my Mom, when I travelled to Oregon. Most likely, however, I never won even $1.

I remember one time in Oregon, I purchased a Powerball ticket that had been printed out in advanced. That night I could bearly sleep in the Westin Hotel in Ashland, Oregon. My heart was pounding all night. I thought this was it. My chance had come. When morning came, I was disappointed; the jackpot rolled over $220 millions. I bought more tickets on the following Sunday morning with Multi-draw. Yet, luck was not on my side. Still I did not win.

Now, I think that any reason would be a good story once you have the winning ticket in hand. It's a good story because it's a winner story.

PS: Is Multi-draw an option for naive people? what if the drawing computer scans your multi-draw numbers and avoid to draw that numbers.

Congrats to him! He must be feeling really good right now.

His accounting/finance classes paid off.  I can't remember how many times during those classes I heard the phrase "Cash is King".  Good thing he learned from it.  haha

Brad

Can I be anonymous when I win?

California state law requires that the California State Lottery to release the following information: your name, and the name and location of the retailer where you bought your ticket. You may request no media coverage aside from that.

California Lottery website

I find is crazy that US lotteries require winners to disclose their names, that turns people into sitting ducks. NSW Lotteries allow winners to remain anonymous. Prize amounts and where the ticket was purchased are published and they may say how the winner reacted to the news and how they intend to spend it, but winners are allowed to remain anonymous and 99% choose that option.

myturn, you live in Australia and the NSW Lotteries obviously care about annonymity -- unless the winners do not want to remain anonymous. Unlike the US Lottery official empty heads, all they want is publicity and if the winners are hounded, so be it!

A winner in New Mexico is not required to do a news conference. However, your name, prize amount, and ticket purchase are public knowledge. Of course, your address and telephone number are not public information. When I win, I am opting for no news conference, period!

I always love it when a young person wins. I know Todd says that older people win because that age bracket plays more, but it still gives me a bit of hope. I'm not sure about the genuis involved in having a press conference and telling everybody in sight, but who knows...maybe his friends and family are different (anything's possible right...espically after you've won the lottery).

what if the drawing computer scans your multi-draw numbers and avoid to draw that numbers.

There is no way for the lottery folks to avoid drawing any numbers.

I find is crazy that US lotteries require winners to disclose their names, that turns people into sitting ducks

It does have it's down sides, but the positive side is that the public knows the drawing is not corrupt.  If every winner was to remain anonymous, it would be much easier to hide if dirty lottery CEO's were paying themselves out repeatedly.  No one would know.

wow, 24 years old, i know he must be on cloud 9 10 and 11, im close to his age, so i can only imagine how he feels and all the opportunites running through his mind!!

Anyone would rather win when they are 24 than when they were in their 40s or 50s.  You are alone if you  disagree.

You are the same person that wouldn't want to win more than a few millions.  You are alone there too.

I am sure it would be very nice to win at any age, but the sooner you win, the more years you have to enjoy it.

Yes, that's true, but how do you really know that?  What about all the lottery winners who blew it in a short time or whose wealth led to their demise? Although statistically someone 24 will live much longer than someone 64, there are never any guarantees.  I'm only in my 50s and I've lost friends to cancer or a tragic accident.  Yet I also know people in their 80s who are healthy & active.

Well, it's silly to belabor this issue, since it is supposed to be a happy thread, but I only made my last comment because I've read many posts over the years that suggest older people don't have the same right to a comfortable life.  Although nobody "deserves" to win more than anyone else, IMO most older people would appreciate a windfall more, since they've paid the price..so to speak.  Someone just out of school or the Paris Hilton type who is born into wealth, will never learn what it's like to struggle to make ends meet or make sacrifices for his kids or to take care of an ailing parent.  Sometimes that's where a person gets his strength.

Just because you are middle-aged doesn't mean that you already have most of what you want out of life!

Maybe you have lost your job, and can't get one because you are middle-aged.

Maybe you have been chronically ill for 22 years and are now disabled.

Maybe most of what you have wanted to do has always been out of reach, and that is why you play.

I believe that my story would be"cool' too.

I am very happy for this young man and hope he enjoys his winnings. I have a feeling though, he will come to regret that press conference. There are just too many unscrupulous people out there who will do their best to seperate him from his money. I have read so many stories about lotttery winners who say if they could do it all over again, the one thing they would do differently is to keep quiet about winning.

I have noticed that on the California Lottery Website it says that they are required by law to release a winner's name, the amount won and the loacation the ticket was purchased. Yet, in the "media" section,  there are statements released by the lottery saying the winner wishes to remain anonymous. Anyone know whether a winner in California can claim thier winnings anonymously.

justxploring, I have also responded on this post regarding the arrogance of some writers who assume that older players don't deserve to win as younger players do. 

Although the 24 winner may have longevity on his side, the quality of his life, in my opinion, will be or should be remembered at the end of his days.

Finally, as justxploring mentioned: "most older people would appreciate a windfall more, since they've paid the price...so to speak." These are powerful and poigant words...advice to all younger players.

justxploring's opinions always sound very thoughtful. I wish my brain can easily come up with meaningful and concise statements like hers. It would be helpful to my English essays. The downside is that English is my second language, and I often hang out with folks speaking my native language.