Local News
Lottery winnings turn delivery driver into multimillionaire
A cashier holds a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a convenience store in Lisbon, Maine, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. With tickets selling well, the jackpot for tonight's drawing is now at an estimated $636 million, the second-biggest lottery prize in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Northern California is the home of the latest multimillionaire -- Mega Millions lottery winner Steve Tran.
On Friday, state lottery officials announced that the co-winner of last month's $648 million jackpot was Tran, a local delivery driver.
When they first announced it, the officials would only say Tran is from Northern California and that he came forward yesterday.
Tran told lottery officials he didn't realize he won because he purchased tickets in several different cities. After he bought them, he put them in a drawer and went on vacation.
He later found the winning ticket and saw he was a winner.
Upon realizing that he had won, Tran then called work and said he wasn't coming back.
Tran isn't the only person making money off of his ticket, as the owner of Jenny's Gift Shop in San Jose will receive $1 million for selling it to Tran.
Jenny's Gifts has also become a local tourist attraction in the wake of the lottery. On Friday, people came from all around to pose and take pictures in front of sign that said "Millionaire made here."
"It's kinda cool to come down here. It's like celebrity status now. It's kinda fun," said Jeffery Cheng, who drove from San Francisco to buy a ticket from Jenny's Gifts.
Tran opted for the lump sum payment of $173.8 million before taxes.
Tran opted for the lump sum payment of $173.8 million before taxes.
