California waiting for Mega Millions winner to emerge

Dec 31, 2013, 1:07 pm (32 comments)

Mega Millions

SAN JOSE, Calif. — With each passing day, the mystery deepens.

Someone, somewhere, is in possession of a lucky Mega Millions lottery ticket worth $324 million that was purchased at a small San Jose shop on Dec. 17.

We know the winning numbers: 8, 14, 17, 20, 39 and a mega number of 7. But what's still unknown is who holds the golden slip of paper that represents a passport into the land of unfathomable riches.

"We're still waiting," said Russ Lopez, a California Lottery spokesman. "But we're urging them to just come forward, let us help you with the initial madness, and then start the next chapter of your new life. It's going to be a heck of a ride."

But outside Jenny's Gift & Kids Wear, a store tucked away in a Tully Road strip mall where the precious ticket was sold, security guard Mel Cruz said Saturday that he just hopes it wasn't somehow lost.

"Everybody here is happy," said Cruz, 64. "It's exciting. But we're all asking: 'Why hasn't it been claimed yet?'"

So for now, the focus has centered upon store owner Thuy Nguyen, and he's not exactly enjoying the spotlight. Sure, at first he was thrilled with the attention. After all, he smiled for the cameras while holding an oversized, honorary check for $1 million that he will receive sometime in the coming weeks for selling the lottery ticket.

But Nguyen's voice has become raspy from too much talking and he's weary of posing for pictures with customers. He talks about "a lot of drama." And he has been asked the same question over and over.

Who won?

"I know everybody wants to find out, but I don't know," said Nguyen, who emigrated from Vietnam 20 years ago and has owned the store for four months. "I want to know who won, too. But it's up to that person about what to do. I just sold the ticket. This is a gift from God, and I'm happy for them."

Nguyen spoke between waiting on a steady stream of older Vietnamese men who entered to buy a variety of lottery tickets. They had to pass under a new California Lottery sign that read: Millionaire Made Here. Are You Next?

"People ask me, "Can you sleep?'" he added. "Well I sleep good. I still have to get up early every morning, go to work and take care of my family. I'm just very tired. I was excited for about 15 minutes, but now it's so over."

The ticket he sold was one of two winners in the $648 million drawing — the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history. The other newly minted multimillionaire, Ira Curry of Georgia, claimed her winnings and immediately dropped out of sight. She is taking her bonanza as a lump sum — $123 million after taxes.

The mystery ticket will carry less of a tax bite because unlike Georgia, California does not take a share of lottery windfalls. It's worth $173 million, before Uncle Sam's cut, if taken as a lump sum.

The winner has up to a year to claim the prize.

By this point, lottery officials are assuming that whoever holds the ticket knows that they struck it rich and are seeking legal and financial counsel — something they say is smart.

But Lopez has his own advice to add. He suggests the winner end the suspense, claim the prize and speak publicly because it will be impossible to keep a low profile.

"This is such a big winner and there's so much attention," Lopez said. "The media all want to ask the same questions. How does it feel? What were you thinking when you bought the ticket? Do it once and that way, you satisfy the public's curiosity."

While the winner doesn't have to appear at a news conference — Curry didn't in Georgia — the name is required to be made public in the interest of transparency.

"There is no hiding," Lopez added. "There is no anonymity. There is no claiming a prize as a trust. You will be known."

While it may sound inconceivable, winning tickets often are not returned. Lopez said this past fiscal year, which ended in June, saw $22 million in winnings go unclaimed. That money instead went to California schools, which is the lottery's beneficiary.

Another example came in November when the winner of a $465,539 Powerball prize sold in Los Angeles missed the 180-day deadline to claim the prize.

But this is a winning ticket on a completely different scale.

It's also why Cruz, the security guard, said he has met people in recent days from as far away as Salinas and Sacramento who have bought lottery tickets at the San Jose store.

"Everyone knows this is a lucky place now," he said.

Meanwhile, the waiting game continues.

"Everything we do at the lottery is about this moment — someone buying a $1 ticket and changing their life forever," Lopez said. "We're like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and every other magical creature who makes dreams come true, all rolled up in one."

But apparently they don't know who won, either.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

San Jose Mercury News

Comments

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

This is a VERY smart winner...waiting until after the new year.  Exactly what I would have done!

Jon D's avatarJon D

"There is no hiding," Lopez added. "There is no anonymity. There is no claiming a prize as a trust. You will be known."

Heh, heh...yeah, no hiding in Cali. They changed the rules earlier this year. The guy is probably trying to figure out how he can hide, Cool but no such luck. Sorry Charlie. Mad

They'll probably release the store video of the suspected winner to the TV news in a few weeks/months to force them to come forward. CA lottery likes to do that. 

dearlord

How does the mystery deepen?  Seems to be the exact same mystery as the day before.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

That lottery winner is waiting until AFTER Jan 1, 2014 to claim their winnings which to me is very smart!  they took the time to move, disable their FB page, and change their phone numbers!

RedStang's avatarRedStang

I hope this isn't another When Julio met Patel story.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 31, 2013

I hope this isn't another When Julio met Patel story.

Green laugh

now that would be funny if thats what is transpiring

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 31, 2013

I hope this isn't another When Julio met Patel story.

You lost me...What? What is that?

MegaSuperPower

Ditto what is When Julio met Patel? I googled it, couldn't find anything. As for the winner- if I had to guess, they're waiting as long as possible until the 60 day lump sum option expires, hoping that someone else wins a medium sized lottery so that they can get a little more lost in the news shuffle + have everything ready to go to disappear, start new...Or they lost the ticket.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

It should be really interesting, if the holder of this ticket, is one of the lowly illegal aliens, who service the gazillionaires in the silicon valley.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

This person could be gotting legal counceling & advice. Also looking At new homes. Just because they want to keep their privacy after , that one have to appearance.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Dec 31, 2013

This person could be gotting legal counceling & advice. Also looking At new homes. Just because they want to keep their privacy after , that one have to appearance.

Sounds like you're hittin' the sauce a little early tonight, cbr$.   Thumbs Up

Party1377

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Dec 31, 2013

This person could be gotting legal counceling & advice. Also looking At new homes. Just because they want to keep their privacy after , that one have to appearance.

I agree. That lotto spoke person is a moron. If he was getting hounded after a lotto win we would see how he feels about NO HIDING comment. I hate pricks like that.

Also CA law only can pick cash option for 60 days? Even though claim with in a year? That would suck let people get there life in order they are being smart.

JonnyBgood07's avatarJonnyBgood07

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Dec 31, 2013

It should be really interesting, if the holder of this ticket, is one of the lowly illegal aliens, who service the gazillionaires in the silicon valley.

was thinking the same thing.

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

I just hope (dare I say it) the ticket wasn't lost.  Maybe somebody will rake it up Jester Laugh

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