Los Angeles CNN Business —The owner of Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, California, who came to the United States from Syria in 1980 with $14,000 in his pocket, is now a millionaire after selling the sole winning Powerball lottery ticket.
California Lottery officials presented the check to Joe Chahayed and his sons Joe Jr. and Danny on a rainy election day outside of their gas station.
Business owner Joe Chahayed smiles as he holds a check with his sons, Joe Chahayed, Jr., left, and Daniel Chahayed, right, outside his service center in Altadena, Calif. Damian Dovarganes/APChahayed said lottery officials were waiting for him before he opened his shop this morning.
Chahayed hopes the winner is from the neighborhood, and is glad a portion of the lottery money will go towards California schools.
“Somebody is holding on to a very important piece of paper this morning worth $2.04 billion, that’s two billion forty million dollars,” said Carolyn Becker, California Lottery spokesperson.