Wants to remain "normal man"
A nail technician who has played the lottery over the years by scraping together nickels and dimes from tips at the salon is now a multi-millionaire several times over.
Vinh Nguyen claimed his $228.4 million jackpot late Thursday afternoon, after buying the winning Powerball ticket at a family-run chain, Key Market on Sourth Norfolk Street in San Mateo, according an announcement on Friday by the California Lottery.
Nguyen was the the sole winner in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing matching the numbers 7, 14, 24, 41, 21 and the Powerball number 26. His first thought, according to the lottery staff he spoke to: "I read the numbers, I didn't think I had won."
Nguyen declined media interviews. His age, city of residence and where he works have not been disclosed. However, people who work in the same mall said Nguyen works at Nail Resort, directly acros from the market. No one was at the shop on Friday, and no one answered the phone call there, either.
In a private interview with lottery officials, Nguyen said he has been playing the lottery for the last half decade, deciding how much he spends every week depending on how well he does in tips at work.
Nguyen spent $30 buying 15 Powerball tickets for Wednesday's drawing. He decided on the "annuity payment option," which will give him the full $228,467,735 jackpot paid out over 30 years. Lottery spokesman Gregory Parashak said put simply, that amount turns out to be about $138,000,000 spread out over three decades after taxes.
Ngueyn said there was no great secret or science to the methodology he used for picking his numbers.
"They were all random," Nguyen said. " Whatever numbers come into my head I pick."
The win also benefits the market that sold Nguyen the lucky ticket. Owners Jack and Nancy Dehoff will get $1 million.
"We don't have final plans yet for the money," Chris Dehoff, president of Dehoff's Key Markets, told lottery officials in a statement. "We have all kinds of improvements for the stores that we are always working on and we are discussing other things. This is a nice windfall since the margins in our business are so thin."
The market has sold a $10,000 winning lottery ticket before, but nothing like this.
As for Nguyen, he told the California Lottery he has no plans for the money yet. He did say, however, he doesn't want the money to go to his head.
"I just want to be a normal man," Nguyen said.
Thanks to leland for the tip.
He nailed it! Congrats to the lucky guy.
I like to see folks like this win.
Nice story.
The life changer is right here. Is he 26 years old? Congratulations Mr Nguyen.
Also nice is the fact that the store that sold the life changer will get a cool $1M. CA lottery you rock!
Congrats to him. and he chose the annuity
Awesome quip.. the nail guy nailed it for real LOL.
Congrats Vinh! My friend's name is Vinh too I may get lucy now LOL!
Yes, Congrats to him!
Tried this so many times. Can't imagine it actually working.
The winner should be allowed to remain anonymous. If I won that much I would not want my identity published.
Who would want every nutcase knowing they had that much?
Congratulations....
Good Luck with trying to lead a "normal Life" .
l must say that l admire his stance in having his " interview over the phone" , no cameras flashing in your face, none of that cardboard cheque crap they want you to hold...In fact one could ask and answer your own questions..
Example : How did l pick my numbers ?- let me see, oh yeah on page #1 ... It says l wrote down the numbers of my neighbors license plates.
Do l intend to take the cash lump sum or annuity? -page 3 says "......
If someone from California was able to claim the jackpot anonymously, the conspiracy folks would claim no one got the money and MUSL, aka the Illuminati, was keeping the money all for themselves. That is why MUSL is rigging the drawings in California's favor, so they can keep the money and use the cash to buy chemtrails which they can spray on the unsuspecting public.
Congratulations to the Winner Spend Wisely
"whatever numbers came into my head"
Seems I've heard this from others, including David Lee Edwards.
Hmmm... maybe a method worth trying.
Congrats to the winner. as for remaining normal, good luck w/that. now look for your "new normal"
Came forward already and selected the annuity ??? Hmmmmm, might be interesting to find out how this winner is doing in another 5-10 years.
Who tip$ their nail tech with nickels and dimes? I am way over tipping!
Congratulations on your big win! Enjoy your new life.
All systems/strategies have one thing in common, the winner did buy a ticket. Playing fortune cookies numbers or receipt numbers or quick picks or mistake tickets or cutting in line strategy aka the Gloria Mackenzie strategy all mean the winner did buy a ticket.
I'm still going to play tonites powerball.
if you're playing
Congratulation Mr. Vinh......
Lol good one....
"I just want to be a normal man," Nguyen said.
That's what they all say. Congrats anyway, Viet.
Lol I know right
It's funny you'd agree with him to allow people to claim anonymously. If someone from California ever claimed the jackpot anonymously, I'm sure you'd be the first one to cry foul and demand a full investigation.
First thing you did wrong, was assume again...You know what they say about that. Second, everyone should have an option of claiming anonymously, no matter what state.
on 9/24/2014
Won on 9/24/2014
Nice Sully!
am happy for V. Nguyen win ,now he can go to a nail salon himself and say - Do my nails b...h !
If the jackpot is big and I hit it, I would also take the annuity. Getting 4.3 million a year after taxes for 30 years is fine by me. I would never have to worry about being broke. for 30 years. I can blow through $4.3 million and still have another $4.3 million deposited in his account the next year and the following year and on and on and on.
l think it all boils down to choice. If one knows that you pretty reckless with money, then the annuity is the perfect present.If you blow through your stash in the 1st year, you have time to push the rest button the following year and make changes. Many of those who have ended up in bankruptcy have not been truthful with themselves about their spending habits.
First and foremost though is to factor in your current age. If you in your 30's- NP with the annuity, 50's-60's- chances are your money will outlive you and it could end up with your wife or kids...hopefully the * kids are not potheads or serious druggies .. you could end up spinning in your grave.
I'll take the lump sum. I might drop dead the next day.
That is my powerball number and I am glad for this person to win. Maybe one day powerball 26 will come with all of my numbers.EEnjoy
Sully, you are very quick witted!
Sidenote:
In Vietnamese the name Nguyen is pronounced Win.
So I guess we can say Vinh Win wins!
lol
Depends on your age, IMHO. Those 50+ might be wiser to take the lump.
I'm too old for the annuity, AND I like to spend.
I'd have to take the lump sum, and have a trust dole out an allowance. 
Congrats to Vinh "Win" on the win!
30 year annuity
ROTFLOL
The annuity isn't paid out in 30 equal payments. It is based on a graduated scale with the bulk of the payment amount coming towards the end.
His first year payment will be roughly $2.4 million after the current top tax rate of 39.6% is factored in. His future payment will be larger initially but the tax rate may dictate what he eventually nets which may be less if the tax rate is increased.
FYI, California also has a 13.3% income tax rate which has yet to be applied to lottery winnings. That may very well change in the near future as the state is suffering financially and they will seek out any means of revenue available to them.
The top federal tax rate may very well be 39.6% but that doesn't apply to lottery winnings as that is subject to a flat 25% federal deduction.
Not sure where you got the 13.3% California income tax rate but according to USA MEGA California doesn't have a state income tax. How can they even contemplate implementing a future state income tax when there is none to begin with?
I would too! No one can predict the future so SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
The top federal tax rate may very well be 39.6% but that doesn't apply to lottery winnings as that is subject to a flat 25% federal deduction.
Lottery winnings are taxed as regular income. The lottery deducts 25% upfront for Federal withholding, but in all likelihood you will pay much more because the added income will push you into a higher tax bracket. A lot of players don't realize this and that is where they get into trouble. It's better to just assume you will only net ~60% of any prize over $1 million.