$32 Million Lottery Jackpot Winner Returns to Work - 09-24-09

September 24 - When Michele Dickerson from Alameda County, near San Francisco, checked her SuperLotto Plus tickets on the weekend, little did she expect to be the sole winner of a $32 million lotto jackpot. But despite her newly won fortune, the wife and mother still turned up for work on Monday.

Married and in her forties with a 10-year-old daughter, Dickerson told reporters Tuesday that on Sunday she checked her SuperLotto Plus tickets and could not believe she had won millions. Just to be sure, however, on her way to work on Monday she stopped by California Lottery's San Francisco district office.

It was there that California Lottery officials confirmed that the lucky lady was the state's newest lottery millionaire. Charged up by the confirmation, Dickerson went on to work - at a San Francisco credit union - where her co-workers figured out that something was up as she could not concentrate on her work.

She finally came clean and told everyone that she had won California's SuperLotto Plus jackpot. Clearly emotional as she told the story, Dickerson described how her colleagues jumped and yelled with joy at her good fortune. When asked why she showed up at work, she explained that she had a strong work ethic.

In fact, Dickerson told journalists that following the press conference she would return to work. As for what she intends to spend her SuperLotto Plus millions on, she said she would like to buy another house, go on a long vacation, and even start her own business. She opted to take the $14,775,000 lotto lump sum.

'I've been doing a lot of crying, so now I'm ready to do a lot of smiling,' said a teary-eyed Dickerson at the news conference. 'My husband was laid off in July so I think that's why I cried more than I was joyous yesterday, at first. And I know it is most definitely a blessing. I'm extremely thankful to SuperLotto Plus.'

Dickerson bought her winning SuperLotto Plus ticket at Model Liquors in San Lorenzo on Saturday night. She said her winning numbers - 6, 17, 33, 44 and 46, and Mega number 18 - were a combination of special birthdays and other important dates. She admitted to playing the same numbers since January 2008.