Air Force Sergeant Wins Million Dollar Beach Home

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday hoping to win a million dollar Laguna Beach home, but in the end it was a lucky Air Force Sergeant chosen as the winner just in time for Veterans Day.

Nicholas Elias, 27, a former California resident, was named the grand prize winner in front of nearly 700 people at the Ocean Institute's 2013 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle held in Dana Point, the non-profit organization announced Monday. Elias, who is stationed in Florida and did not attend the drawing, has the option to choose between the four-bedroom Laguna Beach home or $1 million cash.

“This is the best Veterans Day celebration ever,” Elias said in a released statement.

The Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle raises money for the Dana Point-based Ocean Institute, Irvine Public Schools Foundation and other other eligible non-profits. Organization officials said the raffle is the most successful home raffle in the state.

“In addition to those who took home prizes, our real winners are the thousands of Southland school children who participate in our ocean science and maritime history programs," Dan Stetson, president of Ocean Institute, said. "The funds raised in the raffle play a crucial role in allowing us to continue to offer these programs.”

Other Winners

• Joshua Hetland of Chino Hills won a dream vacation or $10,000 cash
  
• Brett Spirlin of Newport Beach won artwork by Wyland or $5,000 cash 
  
• Chris Stark of Irvine won a Lexus RX450h lease or $15,000 cash
  
• Denise Howell of Newport Beach won a dream vacation or $10,000 cash
  
• Florence Sears and Stephanie Masterson of Orange won a Lexus IS250 lease or $7,000 cash

Other prizes awarded included stays at the Montage Laguna Beach and South Coast Plaza shopping sprees. 

The Ocean Institute's raffle, which has been held every year since 2005, will return again in 2014. 

If you were Nicholas Elias, would you take the Laguna Beach million dollar home or the $1 million cash? Tell us in the comments.

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