San Jose City College Student Wins $2.3 Million In Powerball Drawing
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - A San Jose City College student who matched five of the six winning numbers in last week's Powerball drawing has claimed his millions.
Michael Garcia recounted the unbelievable moment he checked the numbers against nine tickets he had bought on whim: 22, 10, 13, 14, 52.
"Oh, wow, I got all five," he said. "What about the Powerball? What about the Powerball?"
The 22-year-old did not have the number 11 needed to claim a record $600 million jackpot. That went to someone in Florida. Not realizing how much his ticket was worth, Garcia rushed off to work the night shift.
He and a second winner holding a ticket bought in Kern County, who has yet to step forward, will each receive $2.3 million, which works out after taxes to about $1.7 million.
"The way I grew up, in our family $2 million makes a really big difference," Garcia said, adding big changes were in store for his relatives, all because he took a break studying from finals to stop at a 7-Eleven on Almaden Expressway.
"I feel more fortunate and a little bit more humble because it's just going to make my plans a lot easier than what I originally had planned," Garcia said.
And he only decided to try Powerball because the man in front of him was buying a ticket.
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