Fresno man is $213 million California Powerball winner

Nov 5, 2013, 9:11 am (36 comments)

Powerball

A retired nuclear medicine technician from Saint Agnes Medical Center was the winner of the $213 million Powerball jackpot, the California Lottery confirmed Monday.

Carlo Mitchell, 68, of Fresno, bought the ticket at the Fast 'N Easy store at Shields and Armstrong avenues, which is a short distance from his east-central Fresno home.

In a lump sum, the ticket is worth $123.3 million after taxes. He was the only winner in the Oct. 23 drawing that got all six numbers. He selected the numbers himself. The winning numbers were: 3, 23, 31, 34, and 47, with Powerball number 13.

The numbers are a set of three numbers he plays each week for the three large lottery jackpot games, Super Lotto Plus, MegaMillions and Powerball, he told California Lottery officials in Sacramento on Monday.

He was in Sacramento to have his winning ticket verified. He and his wife arranged a news conference at 2 p.m., but less than an hour before the gathering, Mitchell opted out of the event.

Under state rules, the winner's name must be released, but a news conference is not required, said Elias Dominguez, a Lottery spokesman.

"The winner didn't want a press conference," Dominguez said. "More often than not, winners don't do press conferences. When they have more time to think about it, they don't want to do it, but we were all set to go."

A neighbor who described the couple as good friends said the Mitchells knew their identities were going to get publicly released, but they want to keep a low profile.

"They were expecting to be identified eventually, but they preferred to lay low," said Roger Fast. "It seems like it would be a lot of work to manage that kind of money."

Mitchell's wife Erlinda is a retired registered nurse from Saint Agnes. They have been married 27 years.

Erlinda Mitchell told Lottery officials Monday that she fainted when her husband told her they won.

The day after the drawing, the couple returned home from running errands. He went into the house to check the numbers while she stayed in the front yard to receive a furniture delivery. That was when her husband came out to tell her they had won.

"I fainted, I blacked out right there on the new couch," Erlinda Mitchell said. "I just couldn't believe it."

The Mitchells told lottery officials that they plan to donate to their church, help their family and possibly buy a vacation home on the coast.

They couple has two grown children, said neighbor, Kina Cortez.

Cortez said she learned about their winning ticket last week after returning home from a trip. The Mitchells have lived in the neighborhood for about 15 years, she said.

He told her that he bought one $2 ticket, which he did regularly.

"It's like being struck by lightning when there are no clouds," Cortez said. "He was so excited."

She described the Mitchells as "very good people," hard working and outgoing.

"I think they are overwhelmed right now," Cortez said. "I can't say what they are going to do, it's too soon."

Before they departed for Sacramento to confirm they were the Powerball winners, Cortez said she requested a snapshot with them.

"I've never taken a picture with a millionaire," she said. "In this case, a multi, multi, multi millionaire."

Fresno Bee

Comments

noise-gate

Way to go Carl- Enjoy your " retirement ".

Party

RJOh's avatarRJOh

I'll have to make a note of

"He was the only winner in the Oct. 23 drawing that got all six numbers. He selected the numbers himself." 

since that always comes up when players are talking about QP verses self picks.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Nov 5, 2013

I'll have to make a note of

"He was the only winner in the Oct. 23 drawing that got all six numbers. He selected the numbers himself." 

since that always comes up when players are talking about QP verses self picks.

True- l will have to make a note of that RJOH.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

God Bless him and keep him and his family safe.

bern117's avatarbern117

Guess it's time for me to play my dream numbers for MM while it reaches a billion.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

A neighbor who described the couple as good friends said the Mitchells knew their identities were going to get publicly released, but they want to keep a low profile.

yes by the neighborNo No 

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congrats to you BOTH {Carlo & Erlinda Mitchell} Spend wisely Party

Jon D's avatarJon D

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Nov 5, 2013

True- l will have to make a note of that RJOH.

Yeah, but don't make a note of his age. You know how that goes. Wink

But yep, same numbers played every week for a long time won the big one. Isn't that strange.<not!>

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

With a big mouth neighbor like Kina, who needs the press. Congrats, and buy a few toys just for the heck of it.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Nov 5, 2013

Yeah, but don't make a note of his age. You know how that goes. Wink

But yep, same numbers played every week for a long time won the big one. Isn't that strange.<not!>

Correct JonD- but that's his experience.  Since the majority of QP wins * l am told are something north of 60%, those winners are allowing the machine to pick their numbers, Carlo's is one in a million. So in the end, it all comes out in the wash...so tospeak.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Nov 5, 2013

With a big mouth neighbor like Kina, who needs the press. Congrats, and buy a few toys just for the heck of it.

I Agree! With a big mouth neighbor like Kina, who needs the pressGreen laugh

noise-gate

Bigmouth Kina's actions pale in comparison to the Convenient store clerk in my city who handed the State lottery officials the video of the winner of a $52 mil jackpot which they aired ( for crying out loud) after less than 45 days in a State where you have a full year to claim.
I went pass that store to get an eyeball of this clerk, and yeah- his a weird one, shifty eyes as hell.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

1 Ticket

1 Winner

US Flag

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by bern117 on Nov 5, 2013

Guess it's time for me to play my dream numbers for MM while it reaches a billion.

With some players already getting 5+0 winners, I doubt if it will reach a billion before it's won.

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