Jenny’s gift shop owner Thuy Nguyen, left, sells lottery tickets to a customer on Dec. 18, 2013, in San Jose, California. Nguyen sold one of two winning tickets to Steve Tran, who quickly forgot about it until he got a middle-of-the-night inspiration to check his ticket numbers. AP PHOTO/BEN MARGOT
SAN FRANCISCO—California’s $324 million Mega Millions jackpot winner Steve Tran had a 3 a.m. epiphany earlier this week that spurred him from sleep and had him fumbling through a pile of lottery tickets on top of his dresser.
“I remembered, I think I went to San Jose,” the delivery driver told California lottery officials, who had publicized that the winning ticket was purchased at a gift shop in that city.
Tran checked his tickets, and the winner was “just sitting in my house, on top of my drawer.”
After hugs from family, Tran phoned his boss.
“I’m really sorry boss. I hit the jackpot. I don’t think I’m going to come in today, tomorrow, or ever,” Tran remembered.
The winning numbers were eight, 20, 14, 17, 39 and Mega Ball seven.
Birthdates of family members
Tran will split the hefty sum with fellow winner Ira Curry of Georgia, who used the birthdates of family members as the basis for selecting her winning numbers.
Curry came forward to claim her prize Dec. 18. Lottery officials there said she opted to take the lump sum payment of about $120 million after taxes.
The $648 million jackpot is the second-largest lottery prize in US history. It started its ascent Oct. 4. Lotto officials said 22 draws came and went without winners. Some $336 million in tickets were sold for the Dec. 17 drawing.
Tran, who did not say where he lives, said his family likes to visit San Jose because of the city’s large Vietnamese population.
While visiting the area to eat and shop, Tran bought 5 Quick Pick tickets from Jennifer’s Gift Shop, owned by Thuy Nguyen. He sells a variety of items, including Buddha statues, Vietnamese DVDs, clocks and flip flops. The former hairstylist, who emigrated from Vietnam in the early 1990s, took over the shop four months ago.
Forgot about the lottery
Nguyen will also receive $1 million for selling the winning ticket.
Tran told lottery officials that he saw coverage that the winning ticket had been purchased in San Jose, but had forgotten about his purchase.
“Must be a lucky man,” Tran thought.
Then he went on vacation, and forgot about the lottery.
It wasn’t until his middle-of-the-night inspiration upon his return that Tran realized he had indeed purchased tickets in San Jose.
Tran, who has 60 days to select a payment option for his new fortune, told lottery officials he planned to take an extended vacation.
At least one winner in $636M Mega Millions drawing
Mega Millions jackpot climbs as nobody wins $425M