A San Diego resident kicked off his birthday by winning over a half-million dollars in the Fantasy 5 lottery, and had to step outside of a dinner gathering to double-check his ticket in disbelief.
Sean Zanderson from Encinitas realized he won when his ticket matched five numbers out of 36 for the May 1 Fantasy Five drawing, winning $543,579. California Lottery officials say this is the largest Fantasy 5 prize that any lottery players have won this year in California.
"I was out with my girlfriend and friends at dinner when I checked my phone with my ticket and realized I had won," said Zanderson. "I had to step outside for a minute to double-check. I couldn't believe it!"
It wasn't the only reason to celebrate, as Zanderson discovered his good fortune just a few days after his 37th birthday on April 29.
"I think 37 is going to be a good year," he said.
This new lottery winner bought his lucky ticket at the Vons Grocery store at 453 Santa Fe Drive in Encinitas, said Lottery Officials. Zanderson was buying deodorant when he also purchased $20 worth of California Lottery tickets.
When he learned about winning the lottery while out to dinner, it was great timing to share his excitement with his friends and girlfriend.
"My girlfriend had just paid the bill, but I bought a round of drinks after I told everyone," said Zanderson.
According to lottery officials, Zanderson will use the money for a down payment on a house.
He also plans to take a vacation and have a night out on the town. It looks like he'll be picking up the check this time.
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Congratulations
to you!
Congratulations Sean. I was 5 numbers off for that draw. Enjoy your winnings. .
what a nice way to celebrate a birthday
I hope I wake up with the single ticket winner on my Birthday tomorrow
i get the feeling he will be upgrading his girlfriend. she won't pick up the check anymore so value diminished there. goes outside alone to check ticket. takes friends along to go out to dinner. probably couldn't engage in a one on one conversation with her. will his night out on the town and his vacation include his girlfriend and or his friends. i'm betting he won't go on vacation with just her. more than likely without her. will she move into his new house or will his friends. just wondering.
That's a lot of wondering you got going for you there Faber, give it time & Todd may or may not have a follow up story to your wondering down the road.
todd's story extremely lacking in details. were the friends all male or was it maybe 3 or more couples going out to dinner. did his girlfriend pick up the check for everyone (very odd) or did she just pick up the check for him and her (also odd). if the friends were all male how did she feel when he left her there to double check his ticket which for some reason he checked the results on his phone during dinner with all these people. actually, he should have kept it to himself until later unless he was seeking the fanfare. was he so bored with her during the dinner that just had to check his lottery numbers which we all know was about a million to one shot. lots of questions here but not expecting answers. just trying to get some controversy going about this story rather than the usual congratulations to the winner by everyone for someone that they don't even know. boring.
Congratulations & Happy Birthday to Sean Zanderson !!!
You could be on a lucky roll and play to win Mega Millions tonight.
$20.00 on Fantasy Five won a half million dollars
Darn it, are we having a bad day? Who cares whom she paid for and didn't. Todd can only present the story as it is given to LP and not speculate like you did.
I bet he'll give her a ring over this.
This isn't the first story of someone checking their lottery numbers and finding out they won, nor will it be the last. Maybe he will win MM tonight, CA is long overdue.
Personally, I wouldnt have even told my girlfriend (millennial relationships dont tend to last now a days) let alone some friends or acquaintances of my new found scratch. Maybe Im a little close minded at 25 years old but my old man once pulled me to the side and said "never ever reveal your economic wealth to anybody, mystery moves in silence son". Anyway either way , he seems like a good guy. Hopefully he makes great things out of his big pay day
sort of what i was wondering too. should have clammed up when he found out he won. just speculating obviously on his relationship with the girlfriend. now that everyone knows he has money things could change. like to delve into personal lives of lottery winners but can't justify doing it. just had a feeling that things were not that rosy with their relationship. but couldn't care less. winners do not need to be congratulated on here. they don't care.
Chulavistalivin, How about,"Don't flash your cash in public."? and "Easy money has a strong appeal"
Anyway have a wonderful life in San Diego.Good Luck!
I'm wondering if you picked his own numbers or qp. Congrats to him.
Mr./Ms. Chulavistaliving,
I couldn't have said better about milllennial relationships. They're not worth a doggone.
And about revealing one's economic wealth to anyone.
Yeah, I wouldn't have told her about it either.
First of all, it's only .5 million. Perhaps if it was a MM or PB jackpot, and then after all the Lawyer work.
Mr. Groppo
Agreed.