Ralph Acridge a retiree from Antioch has come forward to claim the $50 million SuperLOTTO Plus jackpot on Saturday, September 24, 2005. Acridge knew he had won something in the SuperLOTTO Plus draw that night, but he had his numbers listed incorrectly in his computer. “I have been playing these numbers for 20 years and I thought I had won $1, 217 until Sunday morning when I saw that the winning jackpot ticket had been sold at the 7-Eleven in Antioch,” said Acridge. “That’s where I buy my tickets.” Upon double checking his numbers, he realized he had actually matched all 6 numbers and he was the sole winner of the $50 million jackpot! The retailer will receive a $250,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
What will he do with his windfall? “I am totally comfortable with my lifestyle and I have everything I want,” said Acridge. “I do intend to make a lot of my family & friends’ lives better.” These improvements will include college funds for his grandchildren and perhaps a bigger house for himself. In closing, Acridge explained, “I believe that everything happens for a reason and I don’t know what the reason is for this, but I know it is my responsibility to make this reason right.”
Acridge won the second largest jackpot sold in Contra Costa County and becomes the 31st jackpot winner from that county. In March of 2003, Sang Cho won $89 million from a ticket that she purchased in Moraga, California. On February 16, 2002, the largest jackpot in California Lottery history reached $193 million and was won by 3 winning tickets purchased in Montebello, Orange and Half Moon Bay. Alcario Castellano of San Jose, California made Lottery history when he became the record-breaking highest individual jackpot winner of $141 million on June 23, 2001.
SuperLOTTO Plus can be played at approximately 18,000 retail business establishments around the state. The SuperLOTTO Plus draw takes place each Wednesday and Saturday night at 7:58 p.m. Players may purchase tickets until 7:45 p.m. on the night of the draw.