6 Immigrant Brothers Share $7.4-Million Lotto Jackpot

Six brothers claimed a winning Lotto ticket worth $7.34 million Monday, and by a twist of fate, one of the brothers manages the liquor store where they bought the ticket.

Ken, Kevin and Howard Wong, and David, Tom and Quoc Vuong did not claim their July 17 winning until Monday afternoon, because the oldest, Ken Wong, did not look at his ticket until that day, he said.

“I almost fainted when I saw the numbers,” Wong, 27, said Monday. “I didn’t check the ticket until over the weekend because I didn’t think we would be that lucky.”

Wong said he and his brothers, the youngest of whom is 18, pool $2 each week to buy Lotto tickets from Monroe Liquor, at 8800 Knott Ave., where Wong is the manager.

“I don’t want our customers to come in and ask, ‘Why are you still working when you’ve won the Lottery,’ ” Wong said. “All of us will continue to work for our living.”

When the brothers emigrated from Vietnam in 1978, they knew they were “heading to the land of dreams,” Wong said. “Today, is like a dream come true.”

Wong said his family has yet to decide what to do with the winnings, but the youngest four are “definitely going to finish college.”

The brothers’ winning ticket is worth $293,600 yearly, after taxes, for 20 years, said Jana Matal, Lottery spokeswoman. Each brother will receive an annual check for $48,933.33, after taxes, she said.

Monroe Liquor will receive $36,700 in commission, Matal said.