California Lottery winner found out he won $1.2 million jackpot from joking text

A man realized he won the Mega Millions jackpot only after he got a joking text message from a coworker asking if that was why he didn't show up to work, the California Lottery announced Tuesday. 

Michael Chavez told lottery officials he was more interested in the results of the presidential race on Nov. 5 than the results of the Mega Millions drawing that night - worth a whopping $303 million.

"I actually woke up in the middle of the night to check the election results to see who won for president, not Mega Millions," Chavez told the California Lottery. "I went back to bed without looking at my ticket." 

The following morning, Chavez said he got a text from his coworker with a picture of the Mega Millions results, jokingly asking if he wasn't going to work because he won the jackpot. 

"He kidded me if the reason I wasn’t at work was because I had won the million. He even jokingly congratulated me," Chavez said.

Once he realized he had matched five of the six winning numbers from that draw, he was in disbelief.

"I’m so excited and extremely grateful. I’ll never forget election night or especially that text." 

Chavez won a total of $1.2 million with his winning ticket purchased at Lake Liquor in Woodlake, Tulare County. The store will also get a $6,000 bonus for selling the lucky ticket.

According to lottery officials, another lucky winner - Yadira Munoz - won $2.1 million after matching five numbers from a Mega Millions draw last March. That lucky ticket was sold at the Stater Bros. Market on Ramon Road in Cathedral City. 

The Source: Information for this story is from the California Lottery.

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