SACRAMENTO – A machinist from Santa Ana has come forward to claim his $19 million MEGA Millions prize.
Natalio Perez claimed his prize today in the California Lottery’s Santa Ana District Office. Perez said he plans to open a restaurant with his winnings and let family members run the restaurant while he “travels the world.” And to answer the age-old question, yes, he reported to work today, but only to fulfill a work promise made to his soon-to-be former boss.
The winning numbers on Perez’s ticket were his own selection – 48, 12, 24, 7, 36 and the Mega number 27, and the ticket was sold at Irvine Market in Irvine, located at 2540 Main Street, Suite X. The $38 million jackpot prize will be split by two tickets worth $19 million each, one from California and the other from Virginia. Mr. Perez has chosen the cash option, which is worth approximately $11 million before federal taxes. There are no state or local taxes on lottery winnings.
Counting last night’s winning ticket, there have been nine MEGA Millions jackpots won in California, including three in 2009 alone. The last MEGA Millions jackpot was worth $77 million in the May 1 draw claimed by two deputy sheriffs from Northern California.
More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed nearly $21 billion to California schools out of total sales of more than $56 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.6 billion in compensation since 1985.