Learn the secrets of the Powerball draw 1:20
(CNN) --
The owner of Joe's Service Center in Altadena, California, who came to the United States from Syria in 1980 with $14,000 in his pocket, is now a millionaire after selling the only winning Powerball lottery ticket.
California Lottery officials presented the check to Joe Chahayed and his sons Joe Jr. and Danny on a rainy Election Day outside their gas station.
Chahayed said lottery officials were waiting for him before his store opened this morning.
"They told me, 'Congratulations, your station delivered a winner,'" he recounted.
Chahayed hopes the winner is from the neighborhood and is glad that some of the lottery money goes to California schools.
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"I have 11 grandchildren and I have to share with them," he said, thanking the media for coming out in the rain to celebrate the award.
"I encourage you to buy a ticket at this station. We guarantee that one day you too will be a winner," Chahayed said.
"Somebody has a very important piece of paper this morning worth $2.04 billion, that's $2.4 million. That person has to keep it safe. We won't know who it is until they show up, but we have a second piece of information." The thing to talk about today is that the California Lottery raised more money than ever thanks to a growing jackpot for California public schools," said Carolyn Becker, spokeswoman for the California Lottery.
She added that it is the first time the California lottery has produced a billionaire.
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Chahayed came to the United States 42 years ago with his wife and two children.
"I work hard, seven days a week, I raise my children, I graduate from university, I buy a house and a business, all because I work hard and I am an honest man," Chahayed said.
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