A 77-year-old retired Salinas hospital worker and regular lottery player will collect $21.2 million in cash after winning Saturday's $37 million SuperLotto drawing.
Mitsuko Higashi presented her golden ticket at the Lottery's Hayward office and opted for the cash payment Monday.
Higashi told Lottery officials she's been playing regularly for 25 years, always buying her tickets at Las Lomas Market & Gas on San Juan Grade Road in Salinas, where the winning ticket was purchased. She was too sick to go out Saturday, but sent her daughter to buy $3 worth of Quick Picks.
She learned she'd won Monday morning when she checked the newspaper for the winning numbers. How did she feel when she realized all the numbers matched?
"How do you think I felt? I thought I lost my mind," she said, describing the experience like being doused with a bucket of ice water.
She said she knows what she wants to do with the winnings.
"I'm going to take care of my family," she said.
The owners of the Las Lomas Market will receive $185,000, or 0.5 percent of the jackpot, as a bonus for selling the winning ticket.
Jesse Lopez, a cashier at the market, said Higashi was a regular customer. He believed his friend and co-worker Miguel Sanchez sold the winning ticket Saturday.
Higashi always bought SuperLotto or Mega Millions tickets, Lopez said.
"All the time, she would say, 'When I win, I'll come back and see you,'" he said.
Asked what he would say to her if she visits the store again, he said, "Congratulations."
That's awesome!
I like to mix it up myself with QP's & chosen numbers.
Many congratulations to Mitsuko Higashi and her family
Congradulations to the winner. 25 years and a QP won. on a fluke. Wow ! For me thats a scary thought.
I wonder why she turned in her ticket in Hayward? thats at least a hundred miles from Salinas where she purchased her ticket.
Lots of Luck and a Ticket to Win It!
Congrats to the Winner!
This looks like a perfect opportunity for an "I told you so" speech from tiggs.
C'mon now tiggs, tell all them system players how the geriatric 77 yr old granny with the 3 quick picks whooped 'em all.
Thanks ridge..."tiggs told you so"!!!!!..hehehehe..Love it..QP's are where it's at baaaaaaaaaaaaaby!!!..
Congrats to Mrs. Higashi on her win!
25 years? wow. And I have only been at it for 6 yrs and I'm already giving up.
I needed this story to boost my morale. 19 more years here I come!
Hayward is the closest lottery office to Salinas.
Something about the way you make your points makes me laugh every time. Thanks for that!
And take a 30 year annuity! She will be 107 when she collects her last check.... :-)
MarkP
This could be a smart thing for her..Leave what she don't need in her will..Less money to worry about while she's still here..Age is a funny thing and winning the lottery can be stressful at any age..
HAHAHA QP's are the way to go IF ya wanna take 25 years to win LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to the winner!!!! Everytime I see Hayward I think of Mervyn's : )
The Herald out of Monteray County published that she opted to take the cash.
Congratulations to Ms. Higashi and her family.
ca-dreaming has hurt tiggs deep..You been hanging around ridge to much and he's rubbing off on you..Be very careful who you side with POSTAL SISTER!!..You hear???.....
LOL tiggs I know you love your QP's and I look forward to the day you go in every forum to say you won with a QP and some good luck : )
But I'm still not waiting 25 years to win! : ) And neither are you !
You're right IGlenn, I though the San Fran office was closer but its actually further away at 89 miles Vs Hayward's 70. I thought there was a San Jose office as well but its not listed anymore. Well, looks like thats where I'll be going too. I hope I don't have to wait 25 years!
Dang, I've been playing with my dream numbers for more than three years. I don't think I can wait for 25 years, or even 10 years like Ihsan Khan did.
BYW, I feel kinda sorry for the old lady who is about to be hounded by her needy relatives (whether she knows them or not.). :D
I'm both happy for her and very jealous
--this is certainly "LOTTERY KARMA--LUCK OF THE DRAW"; She knew enough to send her daughter to buy her tickets when she was too sick to go in and buy them herself that night--it pays to stay consist in playing the lottery no matter--CONGRATULATIONS!!! However I hope to win it in less time and when I do, have a great story to back up my win, i.e. double winner!!!
Awesome story! Congratulations to Mitsuko Higashi and her family!
ambelamba they say threes a charm! Time to get those numbers to hit!
Your probably right about the relatives but with all that money and at her age she might not even care.
Postal Sister so how you doing with your jackpots..Do you sit and study them out and if so how many have you busted..Don't get tiggs upset cause more people hit the jackpots wit QP's or by mistake..So many experts and so many losers..It's all luck baby!!!..Smooch..
Congratulations, Mitsuko Higashi, on what appears will be a net $13.78Million Take-Home Win!!!
Article reads: "Higashi told Lottery officials she's been playing regularly for 25 years, always buying her tickets at Las Lomas Market & Gas on San Juan Grade Road in Salinas, where the winning ticket was purchased. .... She said she knows what she wants to do with the winnings ...'I'm going to take care of my family.' "
Wow, thrilling dedication/repeat process, as my actions and thoughts are the same!
I've mentioned this before.....I hit 5 out of 6 numbers on Super Lotto. My 3rd time buying a ticket AND it was a QP! I don't prefer QP's because I just don't like the numbers they give me. I did hit 4 out of 5 numbers on LL using my own numbers.
I like to study the numbers but lately I haven't been studying anything and my chart isn't up to date. I really need to get back on track! Oh and I need to start playing if I want to win.
Congrats to her......
Thank you Todd. It's a privilege and a lotta fun being here.
Congrats to Mitsuko Higashi and her family on the big win. Another one for QuikPicks!
Ehem, did I forget to tell everyone I love older woman and Sushi?
OMGosh!
I actually laughed out loud.....too funny!
Go get her !!!!! LOL