A retired nuclear medicine technician from Saint Agnes Medical Center was the winner of the $213 million Powerball jackpot, the California Lottery confirmed Monday.
Carlo Mitchell, 68, of Fresno, bought the ticket at the Fast 'N Easy store at Shields and Armstrong avenues, which is a short distance from his east-central Fresno home.
In a lump sum, the ticket is worth $123.3 million after taxes. He was the only winner in the Oct. 23 drawing that got all six numbers. He selected the numbers himself. The winning numbers were: 3, 23, 31, 34, and 47, with Powerball number 13.
The numbers are a set of three numbers he plays each week for the three large lottery jackpot games, Super Lotto Plus, MegaMillions and Powerball, he told California Lottery officials in Sacramento on Monday.
He was in Sacramento to have his winning ticket verified. He and his wife arranged a news conference at 2 p.m., but less than an hour before the gathering, Mitchell opted out of the event.
Under state rules, the winner's name must be released, but a news conference is not required, said Elias Dominguez, a Lottery spokesman.
"The winner didn't want a press conference," Dominguez said. "More often than not, winners don't do press conferences. When they have more time to think about it, they don't want to do it, but we were all set to go."
A neighbor who described the couple as good friends said the Mitchells knew their identities were going to get publicly released, but they want to keep a low profile.
"They were expecting to be identified eventually, but they preferred to lay low," said Roger Fast. "It seems like it would be a lot of work to manage that kind of money."
Mitchell's wife Erlinda is a retired registered nurse from Saint Agnes. They have been married 27 years.
Erlinda Mitchell told Lottery officials Monday that she fainted when her husband told her they won.
The day after the drawing, the couple returned home from running errands. He went into the house to check the numbers while she stayed in the front yard to receive a furniture delivery. That was when her husband came out to tell her they had won.
"I fainted, I blacked out right there on the new couch," Erlinda Mitchell said. "I just couldn't believe it."
The Mitchells told lottery officials that they plan to donate to their church, help their family and possibly buy a vacation home on the coast.
They couple has two grown children, said neighbor, Kina Cortez.
Cortez said she learned about their winning ticket last week after returning home from a trip. The Mitchells have lived in the neighborhood for about 15 years, she said.
He told her that he bought one $2 ticket, which he did regularly.
"It's like being struck by lightning when there are no clouds," Cortez said. "He was so excited."
She described the Mitchells as "very good people," hard working and outgoing.
"I think they are overwhelmed right now," Cortez said. "I can't say what they are going to do, it's too soon."
Before they departed for Sacramento to confirm they were the Powerball winners, Cortez said she requested a snapshot with them.
"I've never taken a picture with a millionaire," she said. "In this case, a multi, multi, multi millionaire."
Way to go Carl- Enjoy your " retirement ".
I'll have to make a note of
"He was the only winner in the Oct. 23 drawing that got all six numbers. He selected the numbers himself."
since that always comes up when players are talking about QP verses self picks.
True- l will have to make a note of that RJOH.
God Bless him and keep him and his family safe.
Guess it's time for me to play my dream numbers for MM while it reaches a billion.
A neighbor who described the couple as good friends said the Mitchells knew their identities were going to get publicly released, but they want to keep a low profile.
yes by the neighbor
Congrats to you BOTH {Carlo & Erlinda Mitchell} Spend wisely
Yeah, but don't make a note of his age. You know how that goes.
But yep, same numbers played every week for a long time won the big one. Isn't that strange.<not!>
With a big mouth neighbor like Kina, who needs the press. Congrats, and buy a few toys just for the heck of it.
Correct JonD- but that's his experience. Since the majority of QP wins * l am told are something north of 60%, those winners are allowing the machine to pick their numbers, Carlo's is one in a million. So in the end, it all comes out in the wash...so tospeak.
Bigmouth Kina's actions pale in comparison to the Convenient store clerk in my city who handed the State lottery officials the video of the winner of a $52 mil jackpot which they aired ( for crying out loud) after less than 45 days in a State where you have a full year to claim.
I went pass that store to get an eyeball of this clerk, and yeah- his a weird one, shifty eyes as hell.
1 Ticket
1 Winner
With some players already getting 5+0 winners, I doubt if it will reach a billion before it's won.
Congratulations to this Jackpot winner. This is part of a current event. This is the first multi-state jackpot winning ticket in California this year.
Oh another person won. That's Fabulous, marvelous, terrific!!!
He's LIVING THE DREAM!!! I hope that happen to me soon. I play with my own numbers and quickpicks. I want to COVER ALL MY BASES!!!
I feel your pain.
Everytime someone wins, I wonder, "Why Not Me?" I'm a good person, and I can use the money wisely. Lady Luck just hasn't smiled on me yet.
It's great to hear a story of a person who picked his own numbers.
The article mention that the winners are required to release their names, but they are not required to do a news conference. Does anyone know if this is only limited to doing an interview in front of a mdia, or if it also includes taking picutres of the winners. And if it applies to the rest of the states that is inluded in the lottery. This is something I always wanted to know since only a few states reuires you to remain anonymous.
Congrats to the winning couple! Happy retirement!
singlewinnersinglewinnersinglewinner!!!
This is California Lottery Rules, although speaking to a woman from the lottery l was told that even though your name is eventually released you can form a Trust before claiming your prize whereby you get a pretty smart attorney who knows how to shield your identity from public by putting up all kinds of firewalls so that by the time a few months have passed- no one is interested in finding out who won what & when because a new jackpot has rolled around.
I was also told that the smaller the jackpot, the least interested they are in your story, its the big ones that draw attention.
Self pick doesnt always work. God only knows for how many years this dude has been playing the same numbers.
Doesnt matter. In certain Regions of the US your personal numbers are your best bet. In other words "QP" can sometimes be a Quick Joke and when U nothing. Doesnt matter how long he played his own combination, IT WON.....;....))
aint against self-pick. I self-pick too and I do agree with you. but when you hear stories like the guy form NC who won $400 millions from
quick-pick and it ONLY was his 2nd time time playing the lottery, it's just unfair for slef-pickers people. what i'm saying is I dont hope too much on
self-picking method. That's why I mix my numbers with some quick picks
That is just wrong and that clerk should have been fired.
Congrats to the Mitchells, enjoy!
I notice that you seem to have a real hangup about lottery store video. I don't think it's such a bad thing.
How many stories have we heard where jackpot winners didn't know they won until they saw themselves on TV and then looked for their tickets to check. Or the guy that was ripped off by the clerk, was told he lost, until he saw himself on TV and that initiated the investigation where he got his rightful prize.
Sure, clerks do shady things from time to time, but as for lottery store video being released, I doubt the clerk has anything to do with it. The store is probably contractually obligated to provide the video to lottery officials, if it's not theirs to begin with. The clerk is just the cashier that lets them behind the counter as required. That's it. The decision to publish on TV is also out of the clerk's hands, the lottery decides that.(albeit partly to find a winner, and mostly for marketing purposes)
If my Grandparents were here i would have them buy my lotto tickets. Does'nt matter if it's QP or self picks, the older players have some kind of magic touch lately.
Thanks for the info.
One smart cookie! WTG!! Enjoy your winnings! :)
$2 TURNED INTO $213 MILLION.
2 dollars and a dream for POWERBALL
The winner, Carl, is 68 years-young. I think he's been playing the lottery for many years. And, it finally paid off. Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to Mr. Mitchelle and to his family! I wonder when will I win a jackpot prize as huge as this? The jackpot prize is so huge that you can live comfortably without working however of course not working is not a good option. There should be a good financial plan for this jackpot prize.