Woman Wins $14.5-Million Lottery Jackpot
A Garden Grove woman won $14.5 million playing the new Super Lotto game, garnering the largest jackpot since the game’s new format began, California State Lottery officials announced Friday.
Thin Nguyen Pham won the prize last Saturday but did not claim it until Thursday. Pham, who could not be reached Friday, told officials she plays the $5 game weekly but “never expected this to happen.”
Pham will receive $580,000 annually for 20 years. She plans to spend part of her money on vacations and a new home, she told officials.
According to lottery spokeswoman Jana Matal, Pham bought the $5 Quick Pick ticket from a Lucky’s supermarket in Westminster. The winning numbers were 18, 19, 28, 17, 48 and 50.
Pham’s lottery prize is the eighth-largest won in Orange County since the lottery began in 1985. Carlos Olvera of Westminster won the largest amount, $25.14 million, in December, 1987.
Last December, state officials changed the game’s moniker from Lotto to Super Lotto and enhanced the game’s odds, allowing players to pick six out of 51 numbers. Before the change, players chose six numbers out of 53. Lottery ticket sales have increased 20% since the change, Matal said.
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