Homeless man wins $1 million in lottery scratch-off game; here’s how he plans to spend it
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (WKRC) – A homeless man who struck it rich with a $1 million win initially thought he had only won $200 in a California Lottery scratch-off game. The surprise unfolded when Armando Vidal took his winning ticket to Sandy’s Deli & Liquor in April to confirm his prize.
Store manager Wilson Samaan, after scanning the Triple Red 777 Scratchers game ticket, asked Vidal, “What are you going to do with a million dollars?” Vidal, a regular at the store, was taken aback. “I was like, huh? And that’s how I found out that I’d won a million dollars,” he said.
To claim his prize, Vidal needed to visit an official California Lottery office. Samaan offered to drive him to the nearest office in Fresno, where Vidal’s winnings were verified.
Three months after his life-changing win, Vidal shared his plans for the money. According to a California Lottery release, Vidal is working to secure a home with a bed and a couple of dogs. He also intends to invest his winnings to ensure a steady income.
After his story went viral in April, Vidal expressed a desire to maintain a lower profile moving forward.