Didn't check his lottery ticket for two weeks
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A delivery driver from Northern California rang in the New Year by walking into the California Lottery headquarters in Sacramento with a ticket worth $324 million.
The California Lottery identified the winner as Steve Tran, who has chosen to take his winnings in one lump sum and will receive $173.8 million before federal taxes.
Tran told lottery officials that after learning he had the winning ticket, he made a call to his boss: "I'm really sorry boss. I hit the jackpot. I don't think I'm going to come in today, tomorrow, or ever."
California Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez said Tran came in to the Sacramento office at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, ending a two-week mystery over the identity of the newly minted multi-millionaire.
The winning numbers were drawn on Dec. 17, and when it was announced one of the winning tickets was purchased at a gift store on Tully Road, San Jose was buzzing about who was the lucky owner.
Tran did not want to talk with reporters but did share some of his story with Lottery officials, Lopez said.
On the day after the winning numbers were drawn, Tran said he watched the story in the news, not knowing he was the lucky winner.
"Everybody was anxious, looking for the person," Tran told the California Lottery. "Must be a lucky man."
Tran said he did not realize he was in possession of the winning ticket until Monday. Tran said he has a pile of lottery tickets purchased from other towns sitting on his drawer, and out of nowhere he realized he may have bought a ticket in San Jose.
"I woke up in the middle of the night," Tran told the Lottery officials. "I remembered, I think I went to San Jose."
When Tran checked his tickets, he made the $324 millions discovery. He was a multi-millionaire.
Tran says he and his family visit San Jose because there is a large Vietnamese community there, plus they can eat and shop. Tran said he bought five quick pick tickets at Jenny's Gift & Kids Wear, a store tucked away in a Tully Road strip mall.
Nguyen said he remembers Tran but added he did not stop by his shop that often.
Nguyen said he feels "proud for him, happy for him."
Being the source of the winner's good fortune, he felt like he made a contribution to the community.
"That must have been the reason I'm here," Nguyen said.
Nguyen's lottery sales have jumped by about 30 percent since he sold the winning Mega Millions ticket. Friday morning, he went through a 20-minute stretch of selling tickets, telling each customer "I wish you the best."
Tran is 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.
Congratulation Mr. Tran & family
Congrats on the big win!
Congratulations and Happy New Year to Steve Tran and family!
Quick pick JP winner!
Congrats to you Mr. Tran. All the best to you, your family and loved ones. What a way to start 2014!!! Good for you!!
For some reason, i'm so glad it was a quick pick winner, not sure why but was hoping it was. Way to go man, when its your time, its simply your time!!!!
Congratulations, Steve, on your huge Mega Millions Jackpot win!
Congratulations! And as I said before, sometimes people just get busy and don't get to check their tickets right away. It does not mean they want to win any less than anyone of us.
Best quote ever :"I'm really sorry boss. I hit the jackpot. I don't think I'm going to come in today, tomorrow, or ever."
Congrats!! To you and your family.
Lucky him. Not only did he win the money, he has a common enough name in the Vietnamese community that he is essentially anonymous.
Also, a great decision by Mr. Tran to avoid the cameras.
CONGRATS!
Tran said he bought five quick pick tickets at Jenny's Gift & Kids Wear, a store tucked away in a Tully Road strip mall.
It was 1 ticket, 5 lines: (play C was the winner)
I always get thrown for a loop when people refer to lines/plays/picks as tickets. I know it is common, but it just seems weird to me. Like when the frenzy hits and reporters go out to stores, and they say, "give me five tickets!" and the clerk hands then 1 ticket with 5 lines.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I wanted it to be me. I'm not happy for him.
Lol you so crazy
5 lines? Someone is going to be seeing helicopters.
Excellent. The suspense is over. Big congrats to the new minted winner. May he receive all the blessings God has to offer. I really hope Ira and this guy enjoy their new life style. Stories like this give me hope that ordinary people can actually win the jackpot. It's a long shot, indeed, but hey, you never know. ;)
Wait how come he gets 173 million and the lady in Ga only 120million? I don't get it. Is it cause of taxes?
Megamillions had another jackpot winner already and some players thought with a 5/75 +1/15 matrix the jackpot would roll at least three months before someone won again.
The first figure is before taxes, the other after taxes.
People are always saying somethings half way and expecting other to know what they left out. Saying one ticket with five lines or five tickets with five lines each might be a little clearer.
that proves once again, that Megamillions is just too easy to win
It's only easy for the winners to win, for the losers it's it's getting easier to lose.
Yes, and possibly no 2nd prize winners!
There was one $5 million winner from Pennsylvania.
Even USAMega couldn't believe there was already a winner:
1:03 am – Mega Millions: There was no jackpot winner in the Friday, January 03, 2014 Mega Millions drawing...
It sure confused me when I saw $15 Million for the amount after seeing that. I don't know if I ever said it, but I had a feeling the next jackpot win wouldn't be nearly as big.
Congratulation Mr, Steve Tran Spend wisely
Both winners have to pay federal taxes, so Mr. Tran will not net 173 million dollars. But he will take home more money than the Georgia winner because California does not tax lottery winnings. Imagine that! But you will surely get taxed to the hilt on every other type of income. I will buy a ticket in California but I won't seek to live in California.
Congrats to the winner Mr Tran and his family! Best of luck to him.