Widow, 85, Takes a Spin, Brings Home $4.2 Million

Elsie Hopkins, an 85-year-old San Diego widow, became San Diego’s biggest lottery winner Saturday when her spin of the wheel landed on one of three grand prize slots out of 100 possibilities.

She will receive $4.2 million, payable over 20 years, from the California Lottery.

Hopkins, who has a son and six grandchildren, will get an annual check for $169,400 for 20 years, or until she is 105. If she dies before then, the lottery money will be paid to her estate and distributed to her heirs, lottery officials explained.

Her spin Saturday won her more than double the amount won previously by a San Diegan, $2 million, unless the San Diego Unified School District is counted as a winner. District officials have received about $9.5 million in lottery funds distributed to the state’s school districts.

San Diego’s school officials spent their money on teacher bonuses, individual school needs and district needs, but Elsie Hopkins has more specific places to spend her windfall. She told lottery officials she plans to fix up her house, which needs a new roof; help her church, which is building an addition, and take a trip to Hawaii.

“And I know some old people, sick people and children who need help,” she said.

Hopkins’ nearest relative is her son, Herman Hopkins of San Jose. He was not available for comment Saturday.

The San Diego woman was $10 million short of matching the all-time state lottery winnings of nearly $15 million, but she did tie the age record. At 85, she ties with Rose Albrecht of Banning, who won $4.06 million March 22.

The grand prize starts at $3 million and grows by $65,000 each time it isn’t won. The lottery deducts 20% federal income tax.

San Diego County’s first lottery millionaire was Geraldine Lafferty of Spring Valley, who won $2 million in December. Last month, an unemployed former drug addict, Terry Garrett of San Diego, won $1 million.