One $10 Ticket, $1 Million Surprise: California Player Hits It Big

A quick stop for a drink turned into a life-changing moment for one California player.

Bernardo Escobedo hit a $1 million jackpot after picking up a Money Mania Scratchers ticket during a routine visit to a Long Beach liquor store. He says he usually grabs just one ticket at random spots—and this time, it paid off big.

He bought the winning ticket at a neighborhood shop on Orange Avenue and 10th Street. What happened next didn’t feel real.

“I checked it outside the store and couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I even went back in to scan it again. Winning that kind of money from a $10 ticket? Unreal.”

? Quick Highlights:

• ?? One ticket. One stop. $1 million win
• ? Purchased at a local Long Beach liquor store
• ? Double-checked the ticket—just to be sure it was real

Escobedo, who’s been playing the lottery for years, said his past wins were small—usually between $100 and $500. This win is on a whole different level. For now, he’s taking it slow and leaving the future open.

And he wasn’t alone in the spotlight.

? More Big Winners:

• Cynthia Bravo scored $1 million from a ticket bought at a Sacramento gas station
• Metta Barone landed another $1 million prize from a Rocklin grocery store

Meanwhile, a separate ticket worth $10 million was recently sold in Orange County, adding to the wave of lucky moments across the state.

Every ticket sold contributes to public education in California—so while a few players hit it big, the impact reaches far beyond the winners.