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.
I see you need another box
Congrats Mr Tran
Just can't fathom lump sum payouts. Surmise that taking the annuity with its bigger long term payout results in more taxes, over the cumulative payoff period. Know the smart money advises to take the lump sum and pay the taxes all at once. It just too much to manage such a huge prize amount at one time. But that's just me. Know Yours Truly, is in the minority on this issue of lump sum vs the annuity option. Just think having the payments spread over a long period is a little easier to work.
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."
At that point I would have known for sure if I planned to ever return to my job.
(British accent): I beg your pardon but crying is my way of coping with a life long sentence of losing, thank you Mr. Hearsetrax.
May I get you a spot of tea?
Chances are the winners that take cash have watch some those TV investment program seen or heard of people who earn 20% a year on their investments and figure they could do better than states will with a annuity only play 5% a year over the next thirty years. If not, a financial adviser have told them he can to a lot better for only a small fee.
Off the top, I can think of two very logical reason why currently taking the cash is better decision in California. They have no state tax on lottery winnings, but that could change. Currently it's 12.3% of income over $691,000 that a lottery winner must pay if the legislators created tax on lottery winnings. Any financial planner understands in the next 30 years the current interest rate can only go up and not advise locking into the tiny rate the annuity is now offering.
Solid logical reasons can be made for taking the payments too, but I can't think of any.
Congrats to the lucky winner!
Of the two tickets that hit the jp, one ticket was a QP and one was self selected numbers. Steve Tran and Ira Curry were the lucky winners. Interesting.
That quote is great. I would love to hear him say it.
you da man good luvk may god be with you
California does not tax Lottery winnings. You only pay Federal Tax.
I didn't want to win this stupid lottery anyway hearsetrax. I'm happy doing what I do!!!
Stupid Lottery.
That was my favorite line in the article. Finally! I always get a kick out of the people who win millions and say "Oh, I'll still work at Walmart. This money won't change me." Sure!
Of course it is important to continue to do something productive and, if I owned a business, I might continue to be active in it. However, I can think of a lot better things to do than work for someone else in a store or a factory. Congrats to the winner.
Didn't check his tickets for 2 weeks, this seems to be common.