The $3.4 million Valentine's Day present that wowed this California Lottery buyer
Willian Deluca keeps buying his wife a Valentine gift even after 41 years of marriage.
And while he was buying her flowers on the day, he went next door and bought his weekly Mega Millions lottery tickets.
It was as he was checking the previous draw's tickets at the lottery store that he knew he had won a prize.
"I knew I won something, either $3,000, $300,000 or $3 million," he said in disbelief.
He went straight home and had his wife check the numbers on the Lottery’s website. That’s when he heard the screaming and knew his Mega Millions ticket was the one worth $3,471,009.
Deluca says he will not retire from his construction maintenance job yet but will use the prize as a pension.
He said he will continue to play and hopes to “pad that pension” even more by winning again.
The commission check to the store amounts to half of 1% of a winning lottery ticket worth $3.4 million that was sold at their business.
Over 20,000 retailers sell Mega Millions tickets in California.
To play, select 5 lucky numbers from 1 to 75 and one MEGA number from 1 to 15 on a MEGA Millions play slip.
Give your play slip to the store clerk along with $1 for each play to receive a MEGA Millions ticket, which is your receipt.
Mega Millions draws occur every Tuesday and Friday right after draw entry closes at 7:45 p.m. PT.
To see if you’ve won, find winning numbers on the Mega Millions website, and watch a recording of the draw. Or, scan the barcode on your ticket at a Lottery retailer.