After winning $1 million from a California lottery scratch ticket, a homeless man in San Luis Obispo went viral and now refers to his fortunate win as his “second chance at life.”
Lottery winnings from a few dollars to $1 million
With just $25 in his pocket, Armando Vidal entered Sandy’s Liquor in San Luis Obispo on the evening of April 6. He selected several less expensive tickets as well as two $10 Triple Red 777 scratch tickets.
Given that the odds of winning the top $1 million prize are approximately 1 in 2.047 million, it was a risky move, according to the California Lottery. The odds of winning even a small prize are roughly 1 in 2.92. But Vidal’s life was about to change as a result of that audacious choice.
Sandy’s Liquor store manager Wilson Samaan has a vivid memory of the incident. There, Vidal won $200 by scratching one of the tickets. He was given the money right away by the cashier.
It wasn’t until he returned to the store the following morning that Vidal scratched the second Triple Red 777. Once more, Samaan was behind the counter.
“Oh my God, come look at this,” Vidal said, looking up. Is that accurate?
Grabbing the ticket, Samaan scanned it. They were both shocked by what the machine displayed.
Samaan talked excitedly about the experience. They gave each other disbelieving high fives as he said, “Bro, you hit the jackpot.”
Vidal initially believed he had won $100,000, a substantial sum in and of itself. Samaan then pointed out another zero on the printout.
Thus, Vidal had truly won $1 million. It was authentic. In one morning, everything in his world had changed.
On April 11, Sandy’s Liquor proudly shared a picture of their customer’s victory on Instagram, writing: “Big congrats to our loyal customer on his $1 million jackpot winning scratch ticket at Sandy’s.”
In San Luis Obispo, Vidal is well-known. Despite having been homeless for years, he is a respected and well-known member of the community.
Over time, the two became friends, Wilson Samaan revealed. At one point, Samaan even offered Vidal a position at the shop. However, Vidal had to decline because of a persistent knee ailment.
Samaan frequently trusted Vidal to keep an eye on the store while he took care of other duties, even though he was unable to work.
Samaan described his longtime client with warmth and respect, telling the LA Times, “He’s a good, trustworthy person.”
Vidal considered mailing the ticket to the California Lottery office after he realized the size of the prize.
Samaan didn’t want to take that chance. He offered to personally drive Vidal to the Fresno lottery office, ensuring the winning ticket arrived safely.
“I was even more thrilled than he was,” Samaan remarked, adding, “He’s a good guy, he deserves every penny.” I was thrilled that someone who truly needed it and deserved it got it.
Adam Kemp, who owns Thrifty Beaches in downtown San Luis Obispo, is another local business owner who posted the happy news on social media.
Kemp shared how he and his wife had been homeless for a long time and included a video of Vidal holding the winning ticket.
“Too good not to post,” he wrote as the video’s caption. This is absurd. For a long time, this man and his spouse have been living on the streets. They have been kind to Maria and me. I’m very pleased for them both! You never know when you’ll have your big break in life!
“My friend here just won $1 million in the lottery in SLO,” Kemp states in the video.
“I won $1 million here in SLO at Sandy’s Liquor store,” Vidal responds with a smile. I’m so eager to leave the streets.
Vidal has specific plans for using his fortune now that he is a millionaire. He informed Samaan that he and his spouse had long-held dreams of purchasing a car and a modest house.
He isn’t going to stop there, though. Vidal also intends to start a business or invest the remaining funds.
Samaan remarked, “He stated that he would not squander the second opportunity that he was given.”
For Vidal, this goes beyond money. It’s about hope for a better future, security, and dignity.
Due to California’s housing crisis, thousands of people are having difficulty finding a place to live. Vidal’s story serves as a reminder that life can unexpectedly turn out better, even in the most trying circumstances.
One San Luis Obispo man now believes that he can make the transition from survival to stability. His tale offers more than just good fortune. It gives hope to those who are persevering through difficult times.
Vidal is a living example of how one positive day can transform everything, as the community supports him.
If this story inspires you, think about sharing it. You never know who might require a reminder that a fresh start is always possible.
