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CNN Live Saturday

Lottery Winner: Big Prize Icing on His Cake

Aired June 30, 2001 - 16:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: The winner of the biggest single-state lottery jackpot in United States history has calmed down just enough to be able to talk to reporters. The retired supermarket manager from California says he is the luckiest man alive, but not because of his $141 million prize.

Explaining why is CNN's James Hattori.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly one week after California's record $141 million lotto drawing, 66-year-old Alcario Castellano claimed his winnings and stepped into the limelight.

ALCARIO CASTELLANO, LOTTO WINNER: Good afternoon. I am scared half to death.

HATTORI: The retired supermarket manager and his wife of 38- years, Carmen, realized they were the big winners Sunday morning, after both checked the numbers again and again.

A. CASTELLANO: Once she checked them and saw we did have a lotto, she did get very excited. And she was kind of jumping up. She hasn't jumped like that for years and years.

CARMEN CASTELLANO, ALCARIO'S HUSBAND: Real high!

HATTORI: Castellano says he's played the lotto for 15 years and always knew he would win. But his good luck, he says, didn't start with a winning ticket.

A. CASTELLANO: I am the luckiest man alive today because I have a loving wife, three great children and some grandchildren. I am proud to take care of their every need from now on because I just got luckier.

HATTORI: Rather than annual installments totaling $141 million, the Castellanos chose to take a lump sum pay-out of $70,800,000. After taxes, that's about $51 million. The couple plans to travel, pay off their children's' school loans, and support Latino community programs. The money, they concede, will change their lives.

C. CASTELLANO: But one thing we do know is that this will not change our core values, either as a couple or as a family.

HATTORI: Al Castellano says he was already living the American dream. Winning the lotto, he says, just icing on the cake.

James Hattori, CNN, San Francisco.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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