New Jersey native recently moved to San Diego
Includes video report
Updated: Jan. 8, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — The $47 million winner of the Mega Millions lottery game was all smiles Wednesday afternoon when he claimed his winnings and was introduced at a news conference as Todd Moitz, California Lottery officials said.
Moitz, a 24-year-old former Farmer's Insurance agent, said he's overwhelmed by the news and hasn't yet decided what to do with the windfall.
He has elected the cash option, which is worth $32 million before taxes.
"Cash is king," Moitz said, explaining his choice for the payment option.
Moitz bought the ticket at a 7-Eleven on Cass Street near Loring Street in Pacific Beach, where he lives. The winning numbers: 2, 11, 19, 21, 34 and the Mega number 38, were announced Friday night.
He said he typically buys $2 for two tickets, and he chooses the lottery numbers to play. He typically plays the day of the drawing and didn't expect to win.
Moitz said he discovered his riches Saturday morning when he checked the numbers on a website and did "a double-take." [Editor: still trying to determine which website he checked.]
"You never actually expect (the numbers) to actually land," he said. "It's surreal. It's a dream come true."
Moitz said he pounded on his roommate's door and had him verify the numbers matched those drawn.
Since then, Moitz said he's been texting and calling relatives to share the news.
Despite his openness, Moitz declined to state his dating status.
The University of Delaware graduate who moved to San Diego from New Jersey in August chuckled when he said he had studied business.
"It's the best time of my life," said Moitz, who also drives a Zamboni at the San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa. "I love this city."
He avoided questions about what his first big purchase might be, where he might settle down, and his relationship status.
Nor was he sure of his future work plans.
"I really don't know," Moitz said.
Flanked by his parents and sister during the news conference, Moitz said his mind is running "a mile a minute."
"I have to wait for it to slow down to a normal speed before I can make a rational decision," Moitz said. Regardless of what he does with the money, he said his family would be taken care of.
Charles Rich, a lottery sales manager, praised Moitz, a University of Delaware graduate who studied finance and marketing.
"I feel very confident he'll do well with this," Rich said. "I don't think he'll have any problems."
But will Moitz remain among the one-third of local residents who buy lottery tickets?
"Of course," he said.
The store is also expected to receive $230,000, a ½ percent share of the jackpot.
Store owner Palvinder Hundal, who has owned the store for three years, said it's the first time a winning number was purchased there.
Hundal said he would share some of the money with his employees and some would help pay school costs for his children.
Mega Millions is a multi-state game played in twelve states and has drawings on Tuesdays and Fridays.
VIDEO: Watch the report
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Congrats from one Jersey native to another.
Having just turned 20 a couple months ago, it's good to hear when someone younger gets to win the jackpot, it always seems to be people who are middle-aged and older and already have most of what they want out of life, and don't desire to make much change. Not to say they don't deserve it by any stretch, it's just that I haven't seen a single story with anyone under 30-40 years of age hitting a jackpot until now. Cool story.
That should work out well he studied finance in college. Congrats to him!
it always seems to be people who are middle-aged and older
Most likely because that's the bulk of the lottery players right there.
Winning at 24 will leave many more years of great adventures!!
This is truly an inspiring story for any young lottery players who are feeling discouraged about winning: luck and patience are key ingredients. Yes, most older winners win because they probably play more regularly.
PLEASE>lp>:
hlp explan dis win 2 UR>>?
favaront poster>>>>>>>>>!
psykomo^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!
was D ##'s a QP?????????!
WAS it Hi$>Hi$>PICK'$$$!!
THANK'ssssssssssssss!!!!!
Don't worry, plenty of people from all ages win. There are lots of stories posted in LP's news section about 20-somethings winning over the years.
If older folks tend to win more, it's purely a function of more older people playing the lottery. Same goes for male vs. female, area of the country, cities vs. suburbs vs. rural areas, etc. It's a very predictable fact that people who play more often win more often.
See the previous news story about the guy from Colorado for a great example of that!
Congrats to the winner. I just read that the first person in FL to come forward with a PB winner is 22 years old. He won $50,000 because he spent the extra $1 and got 4 out of 5 and the PB. Age doesn't matter to the lottery fairy. Unfortunately for me, the tooth fairy has an age limit.
Quick Picks!
I use to live about 5 minutes from where this guy won. Congrats to this guy and I wish him all the luck.
He picks his own numbers. Usually 2 plays at a time.
I thought so too, but got confirmation from different outlets that they were random picks.
from MSNBC:
At a news conference Wednesday, Moitz explained that he played random numbers that just happened to match the winning combination, 2, 11, 19, 21, 34 and the Mega number 38 in Friday's draw.
Go to www.signonsandiego.com and watch the link with the video. He says there that he spends two bucks at a time and fills out his tickets at the 7-11 shortly before the draw. Using his own numbers. He said they all came together at one time!
I was a little confused as well because I watched his press conference and he says every since he lived in San Diego he goes and pays $2 and he picks his own numbers. Todd has better connections then I do so I believe him.
Yeah, that's the same video that is available on this news story at Lottery Post.
Yes, he chooses the numbers, the news sources were wrong.
My sources were wrong. I watched the video on the Lottery Post story again, and he said he picked 'em. Sorry for the confusion.
Winning at that young an age make the prize twice as nice.
Not sure why he decided to have a press conference. I wouldn't want that publicity.
Definetly. Winning at a younger age is the best. Hopefully I win the lottery soon myself lol. Yeah I don't know why he chose the conference but I guess some people don't mind at all.
One good reason is, I would be willing to bet a few girls might recognize him and could come up to him in the bar. A huge negative would be, there are ALOT of desparate people these days looking for money.
I'm thinking WOW when I hear he picked his own numbers. Did anyone hear how he came up with his numbers? His own system? Important dates? Set numbers he's played for a year? What LUCK!
I haven't had any luck with qp's..I too buy just about $2 worth and my numbers ALWAYS seem to be like this:
A: 1, 28, 29, 30,45,-X
B: 13, 23, 24, 41, 42-X
I know any number combo can win..but I do seem to feel like a loser when I see these numbers. So far, my tickets have been just like this. That includes Wa. Lotto too. Geez.
Anyway..Congrats to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hundal said he would share some of the money with his employees
What a nice guy!!! I love to hear this :)
good to hear a young guy winning millions and not some 70 plus year old who has lung cancer
good luck and hopes he make smart decisions in his spending.
"Moitz said he pounded on his roommate's door and had him verify the numbers matched those drawn.
Since then, Moitz said he's been texting and calling relatives to share the news."
Not a good idea! He should have kept quiet. He will be inundated with pleas for 'help', from family and friends and people he doesn't know. He should have got a good lawyer and tried to remain anonymous. I wish him the best and I hope he invested the vast majority of it for the future. while $32 million before taxes is a lot of money, if it's not managed well it can dwindle away very quickly.
Wow...I agree. I have more hope on Mega Millions now, I am young myself and I will win at this age so that I can have many adventures and help my family and friends out. Congratulations for the win...I am next, but I have to wait for the jackpot to grow again...I have my numbers ready to be announced. I have been playing ever since I turned 18 years.
Disagree. I'm happy for him, but winning a lot of money after you've worked all your life to provide for your family can't be any less rewarding. Can it?
That is wonderful news! Happy he won!!! Maybe one us will win soon too!