A San Jose man won big in the lottery last Christmas but waited until recently to cash in on his $1 million haul, California Lottery officials said.
Mark Brown, a former Ferrari car salesman, talked to his accountant before cashing in his winning Scratchers ticket this February that he purchased on Christmas Eve at Alex's 49er Inn, at 2214 Business Circle in San Jose.
After he realized he won he put the ticket into a safe deposit box at his bank, hoping to make the most of his prize money.
He told lotto officials he plans to use the money to spoil his two daughters.
He also was excited to learn when he came to the lottery's East Bay district office to claim his prize that the retailer will get a $5,000 bonus for selling the prize-winning ticket.