Now that we got your attention, you didn't think we meant GWB, did you?
It's 100 degrees outside, but California's newest multimillionaire refuses to turn on the air-conditioner.
Although Charles "Chuck" Bush, 71, found out Wednesday he bought the winning California Lottery SuperLotto Plus ticket worth $44 million, he'd rather use the swamp cooler.
"I'm still a thrifter at heart, I suppose," said Bush, a retired sawmill supervisor. "I think my lifestyle won't change much."
Bush was with his son and three great-grandchildren on their way back from a trip to Las Cruces, N.M. when they stopped at a Coachella gas station in Riverside County. Though not a regular Lotto buyer, he decided to try his luck with $5 worth of QuickPicks. The numbers were drawn Saturday, and Bush found out Wednesday he had won.
He became Tulare County's biggest lottery winner, California Lottery official Sid Ramirez said. In April, 85-year-old Carney Langford of Visalia won $10 million on a ticket he bought at a gas station on Demaree Street. California Lottery officials say the chances of winning SuperLotto Plus are 1 in 41.4 million.
Even as he held a photocopy of the ticket, printed with the numbers 07, 11, 20, 30, 35 and Meganumber 04, winning seemed unreal to Bush.
"I'm still in sort of a daze," he said. The largest amount he won before was $33.
Bush joked that he would spend the money "semi-wisely."
"I'm gonna get one of those license plate frames that says, 'I'm spending my kid's inheritance.' "
Bush has two sons, 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Two of his sons have died. Despite a jovial demeanor, winning comes at a somber time for Bush. His wife, Ruby, died May 1, five days shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.
"Actually, I was sad because my wife isn't here," Bush said of his initial reaction to winning.
Because of her death, Bush had already intended to sell the house the couple lived in for 33 years and move in with family members. When she was alive, he said, she would urge him to buy lottery tickets, saying, "You can't win if you don't play."
Play and win he did, and he claimed his prize from the Fresno office of the California Lottery Thursday.
Bush had opted to take the prize money in one lump sum and estimated he would have about $17 million after taxes. He plans to manage the money with the help of a friend who is an estate lawyer.
"I can't think of anything that I need or would really like to have," Bush said. "Just knowing that I can do whatever I want to, that's a morale booster."
"I can't think of anything that I need or would really like to have," Bush said. "Just knowing that I can do whatever I want to, that's a morale booster."
Webster, I would do a TON of things with that money. SUch as take a much needed vacation, dental work, private school for my child (especially) and then just put together a little foundation, I suppose. O, no doubt, I would spend conservatively and invest wisely.....
Congrats to this man and also it is good that his wife stressed to him before she died to play the lotto. Good he listened.
I would first make sure that I invested wisely so that I would not have to work again and tell the story of how I lost 17 million. That is one of the worst things that could happen is to have to tell the story of how you lost that much money as some millionaire winners have had to do. Donating a portion is a must to family, friends, and charities. I wouldn't compromise my comforts of living now that I had the means.
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"I can't think of anything that I need or would really like to have," Bush said. "Just knowing that I can do whatever I want to, that's a morale booster."
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17 Million after taxes would be more than a morale booster for this Webmaster LeRoy in IL
Anyone else on this forum can't think of what they possibly could do with this $$$
Please Post.
Webmaster LeRoy
Webster, I would do a TON of things with that money. SUch as take a much needed vacation, dental work, private school for my child (especially) and then just put together a little foundation, I suppose. O, no doubt, I would spend conservatively and invest wisely.....
Congrats to this man and also it is good that his wife stressed to him before she died to play the lotto. Good he listened.
I would first make sure that I invested wisely so that I would not have to work again and tell the story of how I lost 17 million. That is one of the worst things that could happen is to have to tell the story of how you lost that much money as some millionaire winners have had to do. Donating a portion is a must to family, friends, and charities. I wouldn't compromise my comforts of living now that I had the means.
In the spirit of fair play, someone named Kerry is due to win big.