$315M Mega Millions lottery winners stay on the job

Nov 18, 2005, 9:06 am (38 comments)

Mega Millions

A secretary and six laboratory workers at Kaiser Permanente in California held the winning ticket for the $315 million Mega Millions jackpot — but they still came in to work, a company spokeswoman said.

The jackpot was the second-richest prize won with a single ticket in the history of lotteries in the United States.

The winners, who had chipped in $3 apiece and bought 21 tickets, came into work Wednesday at the medical center in Garden Grove anyway, said Kaiser spokeswoman Barbara Shipnuck.

"They bought the entire staff lunch to celebrate," Shipnuck said. "For now, they all prefer to stay anonymous."

Reporters and aspiring millionaires first swarmed a mom-and-pop gift shop early Wednesday where the winning ticket was sold, then shifted to the medical center when news of the seven new millionaires spread.

"People had stopped playing because nobody was winning," said a secretary at Kaiser who declined to identify herself. "Now they have."

It was the second-richest prize won with a single ticket in the history of lotteries in the United States. The numbers drawn Tuesday night were: 2-4-5-40-48 and mega number 7.

The ticket was bought at Rainbow Water, Juice, Flower & Gift. At the tiny sundries shop not far from Disneyland, Raquel Cordova was busy fielding interviews and selling more lottery tickets.

The store owners will receive $1 million for selling the winning ticket.

A couple of years ago, owners Guadalupe and Jose Cordova were considering selling the store but changed their minds, their daughter said.

"My mom's like 'no, no, someday I'll hit it big and I'll be able to retire," said Raquel, 20.

Her mother was shaking after receiving the telephone call notifying her of the win, her daughter said. Guadalupe, 52, and Jose, 53, decided to take the day off and let their kids work, Raquel said.

Both Guadalupe and Jose immigrated to the United States from Mexico as teenagers, Raquel said.

"Mom's gonna take a long vacation ... she's here seven days a week, even on Sundays," Raquel said.

As for her father, "he's too excited. He can't work," she said.

Her sister, 18-year-old Mayra, also works at the store after school and her brother, Jose Jr., 29, used to run the counter when he was younger, Raquel said.

Her parents are considering taking a vacation in Las Vegas but Raquel said she is holding out for Brazil.

Last month in Oregon, a family claimed the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history won by a single ticket, $340 million. The numbers were drawn Oct. 19 in the other big multistate lottery, Powerball. Until then, the richest undivided lottery jackpot in U.S. history was the $314.9 million Powerball jackpot won by a West Virginia man on Christmas Day 2002.

On May 9, 2000, the jackpot for the Big Game — the forerunner of Mega Millions — grew to $363 million. But that record amount wound up being split between two winning tickets.

In addition to California, Mega Millions is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Lottery Post Staff, Wire Reports

Comments

Chewie

So far, so good - on the IQ level.

winner2b

Congrats to the winners; when i saw those numbers, i bet that nobody would win or just 1 ticket. very unique set of numbers. I hope they enjoy it well!!

Party

Chewie

If I won the meesly $7M cash for MM tonight, I would show up to work Monday - or any other day.  Unless I was being paid to check out the beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.  Then I would rethink the quiting option.

Chewie

Make that "would NOT show up"  - Sheesh.  Gonna take a vacation!

winnah

looks like a nice $17m take home payday for each of the seven!

libra926

Congrats to the winners; when i saw those numbers, i bet that nobody would win or just 1 ticket. very unique set of numbers. I hope they enjoy it well!!

Party

LurkingHAPPY FRIDAY....TO ALL MY FELLOW m&m PLAYERS.......

I agree" winner2b"......that number series was unique, and very obivously a quick pick......I did choose the "7" for the Mega Ball, but would never have created the entire series. LOLOLOLOOL

Actually the "7" was the easiest part ......

libra926

If I won the meesly $7M cash for MM tonight, I would show up to work Monday - or any other day.  Unless I was being paid to check out the beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.  Then I would rethink the quiting option.

Chewie: what's "meesly" about $$$$$7 million????...even here in "HIGH COST OF LIVING BETHESDA.......$$$$$7MILL looks great.......when you didn't have it to spend in the 1st place..LOL

libra926

It's also rather uncanny....after what "CALI" had to go through to become a Mega Mil  State,  that such a huge payout would be rewarded to them so soon. Keeping in mind how many years most of the other states have had 1st the BIG GAME....& now MEGA MIL......This is the 1st year for "CALI" to be a part of this, and to win soooooo biggggg.........is phenomenal to say the least.....

Proving that anything is possible w/faith and determination....

My Congrats to the 7 winners......Just one thing puzzling me....

Why are they celebrating by giving their co-workers at KAISER only PIZZA?????? that's right PIZZA. With all that CASH in the KITTY, now's the time to SPLURGE....Champagne, Filet Mignon, Lobster Thermador, Caesar Salad......whats the problem????? Wheres  the "Real Party"?????Who needs PIZZA??????

Or maybe this group is a 1st Cousin to the Powerball Winning, West/Chaney Family....

DoubleDown

It's also rather uncanny....after what "CALI" had to go through to become a Mega Mil  State,  that such a huge payout would be rewarded to them so soon. Keeping in mind how many years most of the other states have had 1st the BIG GAME....& now MEGA MIL......This is the 1st year for "CALI" to be a part of this, and to win soooooo biggggg.........is phenomenal to say the least.....

Proving that anything is possible w/faith and determination....

My Congrats to the 7 winners......Just one thing puzzling me....

Why are they celebrating by giving their co-workers at KAISER only PIZZA?????? that's right PIZZA. With all that CASH in the KITTY, now's the time to SPLURGE....Champagne, Filet Mignon, Lobster Thermador, Caesar Salad......whats the problem????? Wheres  the "Real Party"?????Who needs PIZZA??????

Or maybe this group is a 1st Cousin to the Powerball Winning, West/Chaney Family....

Remember, they do not have the money yet......

 

They can have any type of party they choose very soon.....

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

Yes I also stated it had to have been a QP. I bet showing up to work now is not such a burden to them. I bet they look to forward to going every day now that they can quit any time they choose to without consequence. I can only imagine their conversations when they arrive. "What's up fellow millionaire!" "How is it going lucky!"  Meanwhile about 100 other workers scowl...

bellyache's avatarbellyache

Even splitting the money, they still take home a good amount. $7 million is better then 0. Congrats to them! =)

fja's avatarfja

$21 worth of quick pics, shows you don't need to spend a whole lot of money to make a whole lot of money. 

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

7 workers for 21 tickets for $7 million. Now that is magicial! As I said, the division of 7 seems to work magic! And the mega number was......7!

fja's avatarfja

Sept 22, A  New Jersy couple did their little PR appearance after winning 258 Million in mega millions....then they dropped into obscurity....no controversy, nice & smart looking couple.  Thats the way to do it....It was over before anbody really noticed or new about them.... 

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