Includes video report
WOODLAND, Calif. — Plenty of Californians spent their hard-earned money on Super Lotto tickets hoping to be Saturday night's lucky winner.
Woodland Raley's assistant store team leader Toni Jones said she always joked with her employees if they won the jackpot.
"When it gets to 37, 38 million, people will pull together. And I've always joked, 'Oh great, if you guys win when you're on, call in tomorrow,' " Jones said. "Never did I think that I would have ever somebody do that!"
Well, on Sunday, Jones said while laughing that the Super Lotto drawing was no laughing matter for one of her employees.
One of her employees won $9 million with her Super Lotto ticket from the Raley's, but news came to her a little bit late.
Jones said the employee, who isn't being identified at this time, left work on her lunch break, asked her spouse if they had won and they did.
The employee went back to work to break the news of this big payout.
"Out of nowhere behind me, she comes out and says I was the one who won the ticket," Guillermo Munoz said. "And we were just like what and then she was just like shooting with like excitement."
Jones said, "It's amazing to think she works for four hours and then went home and found out she was a multimillionaire."
Jones said the employee told her she was quitting her job at the grocery store following this massive win.
"When she quit, I did make a comment that you do realize you don't have any medical benefits if you quit," Jones said. "She kind of put her head on her shoulder and laughed at me."
Her now-former coworker said this winning employee was deserving to get this life-changing ticket.
"She seems like a very nice genuine person. I'm just happy that she got what she got," Munoz said.
"You can tell that at home she's got a lot on her plate too," Felix Castaneda said.
Jones said there's a formal announcement in the works to present the employee who won ticket.
"Just to know that somebody from this community won is great. But to realize it's actually a team member that so deserves it... it's just unbelievable," Jones said.
VIDEO: Watch the report
IF i had 9 million dollars I would quit too:) good for her
Hit the California Super Lotto for $9M: Gone in a Flash for Better Times!
Winners are encouraged to read the California Winners Handbook which can be found at www.calottery.com click on the Win tab, look on the left side of the next page and then click on Winners Handbook. A choice of languages is also a step.
Don't forget Uncle Sam and his 37% tax. California does not tax lottery products and there are no city taxes. That saves at least 13% which the IRS will take as payment for the rest of your Fed taxes after paying 24%.
Congratulations to this winner. $1,000,000.00 = $50,000.00 per year X 20 years.
One mistake she has already made is she told someone else. She could have phoned her resignation in. She has all the time in the World to tell her secret. If you do not tell anyone than nobody else will know. People cannot read your mind.
Saint Judes Children Hospital is an excellent choice for a charity. Thank You Danny Thomas.
Toni Jones...
I think that's her name. Gotta re-read, in my home state,
for 3 decades, so this is wonderful, another California winner,
and i am thrilled for Ms.Jones...My brother's wife Natalie lived in this area, of my CALI for years, prior to marrying my brother David few yrs ago.
Congrats, heck, she can now easily buy a few stores or more, or anything
for that matter, so i get why she quit, this is great!
I am sure her worries of money, steady positive cash flow,
medical/insurance that is, all is now gone, and i pray
she invest, and utilize it wisely.
Great story! Congrats."
I would get it in one juicy secured-LUMP SUM $$$
whether i am younger 20s, under thirty,
or thirties/forties fifty etc, i would never do,
PER YEAR, with how the messed up Gov't is."
No, thank you.Not taking a risk. lol and i didn't think about that MUSIC "resign"
by calling it in etc.al.,
"interesting, and i agree.
I just think she was so excited, in shock, "very very happy" ya know. I would definitely be helping the homelessness, first and foremost, and those in a prison (excessive bail for some while others are easily able to "walk out with a low bail.")
-
I would definitely, help in this way and smile while paying it forward, to remain blessed."I like the charity you're citing too, Music.
Have a great evening,and btw, good luck with your lottery games tonight and all month."
Toni Jones was the asst team leader, not the winner. The winner hasn't been named.
Printed my copy maybe a decade ago and still have not won! However it is a very well written publication and one day I'll get to use it.
Congratulations to the winner; too bad she hadn't heard of the saying 'loose lips sink ships.'
Good luck music* on MM tonight; was going to ask you a question, but will check CA lottery site to see if my answer is there!
Double congrats 1 for winning and 1 for escaping the grocery store. ENJOY!
Congrats on the $9 mil win.
The previous jackpot was won just 10 days earlier. It was $72 mil won by one ticket.
Sully said it best..
Duh! Of course you quit your job. Congrats and enjoy your life!
plumsage, I like your signature and how you added the word "Happy" to it.
Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise.
A win will definitely propel one in that direction.
oh thank you, yea RCB, i was re-reading it slower, a day ago and thanks for pointing this out.
So happy for the winner.
Good luck on your lottery games,RCB.
Thank you and happy healthy wealthy and wise to u as well!
""When she quit, I did make a comment that you do realize you don't have any medical benefits if you quit," Jones said. "She kind of put her head on her shoulder and laughed at me."
I understand that health insurance is important but do we have ANY stories of someone winning the lottery then getting sick/hurt and having to spend ALL of their money on medical expenses because they quit and lost their insurance?
She could get ACA insurance. Probably expensive but she could afford it. Or a short term plan until next year.
Yea that is exactly what I was thinking. The money gives her lots of options.
Also if I understand right she still could COBRA her insurance for a short period of time which would allow her to look into the options you are talking about.
Affordable Care Act insurance? You kidding me? I checked into that already. If you make less than min wage then it might be a good deal unless you get a better paying job during the year, if you do, you're screwed and owe more money to the government at tax time. That insurance is based on income, the more you make, the more you pay for low-tier medical care. Anyone with millions would go for Blue Cross of United Health Care. IMO
I know a lot of freelance professionals and they make far more than the minimum wage and use an ACA policy. Never said the ACA was great.
I am unemployed. I'm in my 30's I have a policy through ACA. The cost is 411.00 a month. I love it so far. Depending on ones income level you can earn a federal subsidy to offset the monthly premium. I still get calls all the time to shop rates. She should be fine.
The winner of this jackpot won $9 million, which is the current Superlotto jackpot amount for this coming week as well.
However, the cash value estimate is " $6,400,00" minus the 37% tax burden would mean this female pockets: $4,032,000. Depending on her age & if she is smart enough with investments, that amount can put her in the driver's seat for a long long time.
Can she afford health insurance? As Marge Gunderson would say- Oh you betcha yeah!
Wednesday, September 11 Jackpot**
$9 MILLION
Estimated Cash Value:$6,400,000
Sorry to be off subject here. Just want to say Kudos to the Louisiana lottery. Mailed in my lottery ticket last week and today the check for $40 came today. I know some members are from there.
Congratulation to this Super Lotto winner. Immediately quitting her job. Sound like a good thing to do. She can shop for the best Medical benefits that suit her needs. WTG.
You're in your 30's and unemployed. I'm 65 and still working. Why aren't you working? And playing the lottery?
I thought the same thing momentarily. But then thought who am I to judge? There could be extenuating circumstances that are none of anybody's business. I could think of several reasons why this is the case.
Funny you ask! I decided to leave my position in corporate America. I had a life change id rather not discuss here. I took time off to explore my next career path. I still play the lottery though. Hope to hit it big so I don't necessarily have to go back.
So did I ....I had to leave corporate America. .... after a guy died in his office.
Very sad but we all were over worked. good pay bad conditions.
Which game did you win?
All of us at some time are guilty of not fully reading an article or rely on what someone else says as true. There is a huge difference between saying "you thought" that was the name of the winner and some people posting erroneous tax information.
It happens.