He was certainly lucky enough.
A California teenager won $250,000 in a scratch-off this week. It was just hours after he celebrated his 18th birthday with his mother at a Zach Bryan concert.
AJ Tamraz and his mother, Danielle Magalen, were heading home hundreds of miles from the country star's concert in Sacramento on Sunday when they broke up a 14-hour road trip and pulled a lottery ticket at a truck stop in Santanella. I decided. KTLA reported.
Their initial plan was to use the restroom, stock up on water and snacks, and then leave, but Magalen was blown away by the new holiday-themed Peppermint Payout Scratcher.
“She came back out of the car and gave me a $20 bill, so I got back in the car and went to the vending machine,” Tamraz told the magazine, adding that she didn't pay for the first three until she finally got lucky. He added that the two tickets were unsuccessful.
“First, I scratched and saw the number 50, which turned into $250, and I was excited. Then I saw commas and more zeros.”
The teenage winner, who became legally old enough to play the lottery in October, said her mother immediately cried as they were both shocked by the surprising amount.
The couple braved holiday traffic to arrive at their home in Laguna Nigel, then visited the California Lottery district office in Costa Mesa to receive an oversized ceremonial check, the newspaper said.
Tamraz now plans to use the money to pay off her mother's car loan, credit cards and six months' rent.
“Now she can breathe and I can help her,” he said.
“It's something I've always dreamed of.”
