His Quest for American Dream Really Pays Off

Zafer Altintas said he came to the United States from Istanbul, Turkey, seven months ago in search of the American dream.

The Laguna Hills man found it Wednesday when he became the state’s latest lottery jackpot winner, winning $14.3 million after purchasing three $1 chances in the state’s Lotto 6/49 game.

“I told my family I would be a millionaire by the age of 25,” said Altintas, who is 23. “I didn’t think I would win the millions. I thought I would have to earn it myself, but I’ll take it anyway, no trouble.”

Will he have trouble adapting to wealth?

“I think I can have a better life than I had up until now. I can afford anything I like now. Money is everything. If you let the money speak, you don’t need to say anything,” he said.

The day after he learned that he had the winning ticket, Altintas quit his $6.50-an-hour job as a housekeeper at the Irvine Host Hotel and treated his friends to a champagne lunch. Friday, he made his first major purchase--a $7,710 metallic blue Pontiac LeMans.

“I was planning to buy the car anyway, but I was just waiting until March to get my income tax return to make the down payment,” Altintas said. “I went there and the (salesman) recognized me from television, and they gave me the car.”

With the rest of his winnings, Altintas said he plans to build a 100-room luxury hotel on the west coast of Turkey, purchase a home for his mother in Istanbul, a BMW automobile for his brother and a home with an ocean view for himself.

Altintas was born to Turkish parents in St. Louis, which made him a U.S. citizen. He grew up in Turkey, but he decided to come to California earlier this year because he believed that there were more opportunities for success here. He said he chose Orange County because he has a friend there.

Altintas said he speaks German, Turkish, English and a little Italian and has studied business administration in West Germany. He is single and has no children.

“I came to California because the most money is here. In Missouri, there are not too many opportunities for me to become someone. In California, you can become someone and earn money. There are better schools here and the weather is good,” he said.

Altintas said he has played the lottery sporadically since he came to Orange County in April. He said he randomly selected the numbers 4, 7, 11, 27, 31 and 39 that were drawn Wednesday. He said he had intended to choose 38 but marked 39 by mistake.

Altintas will have to wait until the state lottery offices reopen Monday to claim his prize. Lottery offices were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday and will remain closed through the weekend.

Altintas’ prize is $14,332,143, which will be paid in annual installments over the next 20 years.