Sonoma County Man Wins $5M On Scratchers Ticket: CA Lottery

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Sonoma County man returned from a recent lunch break as a multi-millionaire. Keith Johnson, 57, works in the wine distribution business and told California Lottery officials he stopped at Sam's Market, 5290 Aero Drive in Santa Rosa, to buy a sandwich for lunch.

Johnson also decided to buy a $20 Scratchers ticket, and said he discovered after he returned to work that he just won $5 million (before taxes).

"I kept [the ticket] in my lunchbox," Johnson told CA Lottery officials. "It seemed fine, as long as nobody knew I had it. It was always near."

He said the first person he told was his wife.

His mind was still racing as he put in his claim for the massive prize, he said.

"Oh, it’s a lot of everything," Johnson said about the money. "I have some fear behind having that much money and trying to avoid spending it all."

Johnson chose the 25-year annuity option, which according to lottery officials amounts to $200,000 per year.

The family’s wishlist does include a new house but he is not looking for anything too fancy, he said.

"I’m not much into things, but my wife might have some ideas," Johnson said. "She’s got a thousand pairs of shoes."

Johnson declined media interviews or to release any additional information, according to CA Lottery officials.

As for Sam's Market, it will receive a retailer bonus of $25,000 for selling the winning ticket, and the bonus is not subtracted from the winner's prize, lottery officials said.