SACRAMENTO - California’s newest millionaires came forward today to claim the $112 million jackpot prize from Friday night’s MEGA Millions draw.
Robert Stafford, along with his children, Robert Jr. and Cynthia, were somewhat surprised they won the Lottery. Cynthia has always been a positive thinker and now her brother and father are taking notice. "They never wanted to hear about it before, but now my brother has changed his mind," said Cynthia. "I believe, I believe," interrupted Robert Jr.
The Staffords are a close knit family, with Cynthia a foster mom to her four nieces and nephews after her youngest brother was killed in an auto accident eight years ago. When asked if she would spoil her children with this prize, she and her brother replied simultaneously, "They are already spoiled!"
The winners chose the cash option and will receive approximately $67 million (before federal tax withholding). While it is unclear what Robert Sr. will do with his portion of the prize, Robert Jr. and Cynthia both agree, they will invest most of it, with Cynthia also starting college funds for her four children.
Friday night’s winning combination of 28, 30, 33, 48, 54 and the MEGA number 25 was sold at Freeman Market in Hawthorne. The winning retailer location is Freeman Market located at 11733 Freeman Avenue in Hawthorne, CA. This retailer will receive a bonus of $560,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Public education receives at least 34 cents of every dollar players spend on Lottery products like MEGA Millions. The California Lottery contributed $1.28 billion to public education in 2005-06 out of sales of $3.58 billion, the sixth year in a row the Lottery has provided more than $1 billion in supplemental funding for education. Retailers won too, earning over $252 million in compensation last year selling Lottery products.