Retired Grocery Clerk Claims Lotto Prize

A 66-year-old retired grocery clerk has

come forward to claim a $141 million lottery prize, the largest

single-state jackpot in U.S. history.

Alcario Castellano of San Jose brought the winning ticket to the lottery's San Francisco district office Thursday, lottery spokeswoman Norma Minas said. He chose to take the money in a lump sum, which means he will receive $70,794,364, or about $42.3 million after taxes.

Minas said Castellano was accompanied by his wife and other family members — one of whom videotaped the exchange — when he turned in his ticket.

"They were nervous," Minas said.

Castellano told the San Jose Mercury News that he bought his ticket Saturday at a local liquor store, letting the machine pick the numbers. On Sunday he awoke at dawn, brewed coffee, and plucked his ticket from the refrigerator where it was posted with a magnet.

What’s Going on Here?

He sat down to read the paper and began matching the numbers, one by one.

"Now, what's going on here?" he said to himself. "Is this real? I can't believe it."

Two weeks ago, the couple was thinking of selling their house and moving south, the newspaper reported. Now, they plan to stay, enjoying their three grandchildren and helping the community.

Castellano said he wants to help his daughters through graduate school. His wife, Carmen, added they may spread some of the money among community organizations.

The largest previous single-state lottery prize was $118.8 million in 1991, also in California.