Mega Millions: Second Winner Finally Claims $324 Million Prize
The second Mega Millions winner came forward late Thursday to claim half of the $636 million prize, the second largest lottery jackpot in history.
Steve Tran, a delivery driver from northern California, revealed his winning ticket two weeks after the first winner from Georgia came forward.
Why the delay? Tran said he forgot he bought five Quick Pick tickets in San Jose. The winning ticket had been purchased from Jennifer's Gift Shop.
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For weeks, the winning ticket was "just sitting in my house, on top of my drawer," Tran told Mega Millions officials. He had added the ticket he bought while out with his family in San Jose, where there is a large Vietnamese community, to a pile of other tickets he had purchased in other towns.
After returning from a family vacation, Tran said he woke up around 3 a.m. Monday. "I remembered, I think I went to San Jose."
Once he discovered he had the second winning ticket, he told family members and also left a message with his boss, saying something similar to: "I'm really sorry boss. I hit the jackpot. I don't think I'm going to come in today, tomorrow, or ever."
Tran said he plans to take another vacation.
The winning numbers were 8, 20, 14, 17, 39 and the Mega number 7.
Split between Tran and Ira Curry from Georgia, each ticket is worth $324 million. If they decide to take the cash option, the lump sum is $173.8 million each before federal taxes.
