Largest Single Lottery Winner Takes $88-Million Jackpot

A retired San Francisco hairdresser came forward Tuesday as the California Lottery’s largest individual winner, promising to share her $88-million jackpot with all of her relatives and saying the first priority would be sending her great-nieces and great-nephews to college.

Nita Colla, 69, bought her lucky ticket at a smoke shop, one of two Quick Picks. She learned she had all the right numbers Thursday, when she checked the newspaper.

“I was shellshocked,” Colla said, flanked by her husband, Tommy, 78, and several members of their extended family as the couple shyly answered questions during a news conference at a downtown hotel ballroom.

Colla safeguarded the ticket under her pillow for five days, giving her time to inform her family and consult a financial planner.

Colla chose to receive $42.9 million in cash before taxes, the amount the Lottery would have invested for her if she had chosen payments over 26 years.