Two lucky lottery players in San Jose recently won $1 million each on Scratchers tickets, according to the California Lottery.
Lasandra Arizmendez won her jackpot playing the Gold Rush game on a ticket she received as a Christmas gift from her loved ones.
The ticket was bought at the Piedmont Shell gas station in San Jose. Arizmendez told lottery officials giving Scratchers tickets as gifts is a family tradition.
"We really believe in it, and we believe in miracles. That’s what this was, a miracle on Christmas," Arizmendez said. "I was a little leery because my family plays tricks on me, but when I turned it over, I knew it was real."
Arizmendez told lottery officials she is a hairdresser, and when her salon closed during the pandemic, she was out of work. She now plans to buy a house and start her kids’ college funds with the prize money.
Piedmont Shell gets a $5,000 bonus for selling the jackpot ticket.
The second San Jose winner is Ishak Jimenez, who won $1 million on a California Dreamin' ticket he bought at the Safeway supermarket on West San Carlos Street.
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Jimenez told the lottery he often plays with his mom, and they were together when they bought his winning ticket.
"It was kind of a shock," he said. "I really want to buy some property and build my own custom house."
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The Safeway store also will receive a $5,000 bonus.
