LiveWorld Transcripts

California Lottery presents

Mary Champaine
$87 Million Winner

December 07, 2000

Have you ever considered playing in a Lottery group at work, with family or with neighbors? Tap into how other player groups organized their Lottery purchases and ultimately won a major jackpot prize. Find out how they picked their numbers and how their winning the Lottery changed their life and the lives of their friends and coworkers.

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CALottery: Welcome to a chat with Mary Champaine, the manager of a Starbucks Coffee Shop owned by Magic Johnson in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Champaine purchased 13 California Lottery tickets for her team of employees and their families and won $87 million. This is the fifth largest jackpot in California Lottery history. This is your chance to ask Ms. Champaine how she organized her group and how it felt to win the jackpot with her Starbucks family. Welcome, Mary!

Mary: Hi! How ya doin'?

Sami: What was the value of the 13 tickets you bought for this amazing win, and how many employees contributed?

Mary: We bought exactly 13 tickets for $1 per ticket. Actually the day that I did it, not everyone was there so I just put in the money and they gave me the money back. There were employees that were involved that didn't even know they were involved because I put the money in. One of them was out of town and one of them was at another job. But I wanted them to share. Starbucks is a unique company. They have a standard and a philosophy that is one team, one purpose. We are in the group together. I am the only full time employee. My other partners are part time associates but even though they are part time, if they work 20 hours, Starbucks gives them full benefits. Most of these employees that work with me, work other jobs. Some of them are part time. Some of them don't have a lot of education. I had 3 in school, 2 in college. They were striving and trying to get there. They just couldn't get there on their own. I heard about the $87 million lottery. I was talking to a couple of the partners and we laughed and said we wanted a $1 bill from everyone, so the 3 that were there gave me their dollars. I forgot it until Saturday. That morning, people coming in were talking about the lottery and I thought “Oh, my goodness.” Then I talked with a few other people and they gave me their dollars. And then I realized if I did the lottery everyone wouldn't share. I didn't think we were going to win but there was always a chance and I remembered the Starbucks philosophy. One team. One purpose. There was one person that had a lot of financial aid and she won't have to do that anymore. I had one that wanted to get married. She was in LA trying to find a dress and she couldn't afford it. There was another young lady who never thought she would have her own house. Now when she sees me, she cries and hugs me. I always wanted a Jaguar, and I told them, I'll get me a Jaguar! And we laughed. So we made sure everyone was included. We ran around to the liquor store. When I bought the tickets, one of the girls had given me numbers so I originally ordered 10 quick picks. I was trying to fiddle with one of the scratch sheets and didn't have my glasses on so said "Forget this," and just ordered 2 more quick picks. And the winning numbers were on the last two quick picks.

Luckless: Did everyone have their own special numbers they wanted to select? If so, how did you decide what numbers to use?

Mary: I only had one person give me numbers. I didn't see everybody.

Rob: What was it like to win the lottery?

Mary: Unbelievable. Pinch me! I still don't think I'm awake.

Packer: Did your life change a lot?

Mary: Yes. I have men talking to me that never talked to me before.

Teri: Some people say they aren't going to change their lives, and keep working. Has your attitude changed since you won?

Mary: No. I am going to keep working. I just may not be able to keep doing the job that I am doing right now.

Jessica: Do you play the lottery often?

Mary: No. The only time I play the lottery is when it is a big jackpot.

Val: Where did you get your winning California Lottery ticket?

Mary: I got it L & E Liquor Store on La Brea and San Vicente.

Buster: What is the first thing you bought? How about the other winners in your group?

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