Los Angeles
CNN Business
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The proprietor of Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, who got here to the United States from Syria in 1980 with $14,000 in his pocket, is now a millionaire after promoting the only real successful Powerball lottery price tag.
California Lottery officers offered the test to Joe Chahayed and his sons Joe Jr. and Danny on a wet election day outdoor in their gasoline station.
Chahayed mentioned lottery officers had been looking forward to him ahead of he opened his store this morning. “They said, ‘congratulations, your station sent a winner,’” he recounted.
Chahayed hopes the winner is from the community, and is satisfied a portion of the lottery cash will pass against California faculties. “I have 11 grandchildren and I have to share with them,” he mentioned, then thanked the media for popping out within the rain to rejoice the winnings. “I encourage you to buy a ticket from this station. We guarantee you one day you’re going to be winners too,” mentioned Chahayed.
“Somebody is holding on to a very important piece of paper this morning worth $2.04 billion, that’s two billion forty million dollars,” mentioned Carolyn Becker, California Lottery spokesperson. “That person needs to keep it safe. We will not know who they are until they come forward, but we have a second record to talk about today and that’s California lottery raised more money than ever thanks to one growing jackpot for California public schools.” She mentioned that is the primary time the California lottery has created a billionaire.
Chahayed got here to America 42 years in the past along with his spouse and two youngsters. “I work hard, seven days a week, I raise my kids, graduate from college, I bought a house, and I bought a business all because I work hard and I’m an honest man,” Chahayed boasted.
