Powerball News: Immigrant Store Owner in California Receives $1 Million for Selling Winning Ticket
A store owner in Southern California has hit the jackpot -- literally -- and is living the "American dream" after his 7-Eleven store in Chino Hills sold one of three winning tickets in the record setting $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot this week.
Balbir Atwal, an Indian immigrant who settled in the U.S. in 1981, was presented with a giant check for $1 million on Thursday. But, despite his good fortune, Atwal's life was anything but lucky. Rather, it's been filled with lots of hard work and determination.
After leaving Punjab, he worked a few odd jobs and as a salesman for an electronics company in the U.S. before he decided to start his own business. Then, at the age of 27, he bought his first 7-Eleven, reports ABC 7. Now, he owns four stores in total, including the Chino Hills location that he purchased about 24 years ago.
According to his relatives, there is no one more deserving of a million dollar check then him.
"I 100 percent believe he deserves this," said one of his three daughters, Sonia Atwal, to NBC Southern California. "He pretty much set his foot here and helped our family make it- the American dream."
His 28-year-old daughter Sabrina agreed that her father embodies the American dream.
"He started off working at three different places, scrubbing toilets. He was working hard and sleeping at bus stops between jobs, before we were born," she said. "This is amazing. I'm so happy for him. Everything he does is for us, for his family."
Sabrina also told The New York Daily News that she hopes her father will use the money to take a day off from his busy 7-day work schedule.
Meanwhile, the humble convenience store owner said he plans to share his winnings and use the cash to pay off bills.
"I'm giving some to charity and some to my employees and family and friends," said Atwal. "There is a lot of bills. A lot of bills. I don't know which one to pick."
"I'm very blessed," he added.
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