Man Wins $10M Off Scratchers Ticket At North Bay Gas Station

SONOMA, CA — A customer at a Sonoma gas station walked in for a drink and walked out $10 million richer. Ronald Lopez told lottery officials it was a last-minute decision to buy the $30 Dazzler Scratchers game since really, he had stopped at Bonneau's 76 gas station, 23003 Arnold Drive, just to get something to drink. But the fancy-looking Scratchers game grabbed his attention and he thought, “Why not give it a shot?”

Lopez was 13 boxes into scratching 30 boxes when he saw "$10,000,000" in bold numbers and "TENMIL" in all caps, according to a California Lottery news release issued Monday.

"I took a couple of glances," Lopez said. "I didn’t really believe it. I was in tears."

Lopez remembered taking his ticket back into the convenience store just to "make sure it was all real."

He said as the clerk scanned the ticket, "All she said was, ‘Oh my God!'"

He took the ticket home, put it in his safe, and later drove to the Lottery’s Sacramento district office to claim his prize.

California Lottery officials say Lopez — he declined having his photo taken or speaking to the media — has the option of receiving a $400,000-per-year annuity for 25 years (the entire $10 million), or grabbing the lump-sum payment of $5,800,000 (before federal taxes).

• Love Your Town, Share Your Stories, Reach Your Neighbors

He plans to retire thanks to his newfound wealth, and he and his financial advisor will iron out the details, lottery officials said.

"Just have to control our spending now," Lopez told lottery officials. "Don’t want to go through it too fast!"

The gas station where Lopez bought the ticket will also receive a handsome prize: a $50,000 retailer bonus.

Image courtesy California Lottery