Carmichael retiree wins $638,000 in big Powerball draw

A Carmichael retiree won $638,000 in the big Powerball drawing on Wednesday, missing the billion-dollar jackpot by one number.

Albert Graham, 79, was disappointed in missing the big jackpot. He picked number 6 as his Powerball instead of the winning number 10.

Then his wife, Carol, set him straight: “How are you disappointed?” she asked.

After all, even though he did not win the big jackpot of nearly $1.6 billion – a record amount split among winners in California, Tennessee and Florida – he had a big check coming his way.

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The couple came forward Thursday afternoon to claim their prize at the lottery’s district office in Sacramento. He was among 12 people in the state who matched five of six numbers and won $638,146.

Like many around the nation when the lottery jackpot swelled to over $1 billion, Graham knew he had to play. He purchased $40 in Powerball tickets at a Chevron station in Santa Cruz where the couple were vacationing at their condo.

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Then, Wednesday night, while relaxing after the Powerball drawing, his wife looked up the winning drawing numbers on her iPad.

Now the retired concrete worker and manufacturer is planning how to spend his newfound fortune.

“I will probably give the money to my kids and grandkids,” he said in a press release. “We also might take a trip to Hawaii.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Carmichael retiree wins $638,000 in big Powerball draw."