California Lottery player thought he won $1K; turns out he actually won $1M

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California lottery player got a shock of a lifetime when he went to claim what he thought was a $1,000 prize from a winning scratchers ticket. 

Winner Jeffry Figueroa was overcome with relief, as he planned to use the money to pay his rent. But relief turned to disbelief when he learned his ticket was actually worth $1 million. 

Exciting mistake 

The backstory:

Figueroa purchased the Winter Magic Multiplier scratcher from Koko’s Liquor in Los Angeles.

"I thought I’d won a thousand dollars," he told the California Lottery. 

He went to claim his prize at the lottery office in Santa Fe Springs in LA County, when he received a most welcome surprise.  

Lottery officials said, amid his excitement, Figueroa failed to notice the extra three zeros on his scratcher, making him the winner of the game’s top prize of $1 million.

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What they're saying:

"When they told me, I was shaking so much I could barely sign the claim form," Figueroa said. 

He said he was happy with what he thought was a $1,000 win, and was already planning to use it to cover his rent.

"It was so surreal. I still can’t believe it!" Figueroa said.  

Local perspective:

He’s not the only scratchers player who recently joined the ranks of the California Lottery's so-called "millionaire's club," officials said. 

Here in the Bay Area, Fredi Zunun purchased a $1 Million Ultimate Cash! ticket at the 7-Eleven on Miller Avenue in Mill Valley and struck it rich, winning the top prize of $1 million.

Lotto officials say also in the North Bay, a winning scratcher ticket was purchased at an Oliver’s Market in Santa Rosa.

Jaime Boland bought her winning Winter Magic Multiplier scratchers during a grocery shopping outing to Oliver's. 

Like Figueroa, she also won the top prize of $1 million.

What we don't know:

California Lottery officials announced the winnings on Friday. But it's unclear when the tickets were purchased.

"We never know exactly when Scratchers winners make their purchase since the tickets don’t get printed out of a gaming computer system like our draw game tickets do," spokesperson Carolyn Becker told KTVU. "It’s always fair to assume when we announce Scratchers winners that they bought their tickets at least a month prior, but sometimes it could be several months."

New lottery game 

Also last week, officials announced a new commemorative scratchers game to mark the lottery's 40-year history.

It's the state's first-of-its kind game that offers a $40 option with a chance to win $15 million.  

Players can also purchase a $2 ticket that could result in a top prize of $40,000. 

The game is called "40 Years of Play!" and will be available for a limited time. 

It is the first in a series of new scratchers this year celebrating the California Lottery’s 40th anniversary, officials said. 

"We are excited to kick off 2025 with a new game that gives people a chance to celebrate with us," said state lottery Director Harjinder K. Shergill Chima. "Since we sold our first game in 1985, together with our players and our retail partners, we’ve raised more than $46 billion to benefit students across California."

This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.

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