Can Powerball, Mega Millions jackpot winners stay anonymous? Not in these states
15 March 2024
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The $1.76 billion Powerball jackpot won in California last October has been claimed, state lottery officials announced.
A group bought the ticket at Midway Market in Frazier Park in Kern County for the Oct. 11, 2023 drawing. Officials said Theodorus Struyck came forward and represented the group.
It was not immediately clear how many people made up the group of winners.
The October jackpot was the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won. California was also the state where a $2.04 billion jackpot winning ticket was sold in 2022.
The lump sum of the jackpot was worth $774.1 million. Winners can also choose to take payments amounting to the $1.76 billion in annuity payments over 29 years.
Jonathan Khalil, left, and Chris Khalil, sons of the store co-owners, hold up a ceremonial check presented to them by lottery officials at the Midway Market & Liquor store, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Frazier Park, Calif., where a $1.765 billion winning Powerball ticket was sold. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The owners of Midway Market earned $1 million for selling the ticket.
“That’s the most exciting news ever (to) happen to Frazier Park,” said store co-owner Nidal Khalil.
“Announcing big wins like this gives all of our players the chance to hope and dream that they could be next,” said California Lottery Director Harjinder K. Shergill Chima.
Another billion-dollar jackpot winner in California remains a mystery. Less than a year ago, a $1 billion Powerball ticket was purchased in Los Angeles from Las Palmitas Mini Market.
The jackpot winner, who hasn’t been identified yet, was joined by seven other lucky Californians who matched five out of six numbers in the July 19 drawing and each went home $448,750 richer.
Meanwhile, players are lining up across the state for a chance at two jackpots currently growing toward the billion-dollar mark.
The next Powerball draw is on Saturday. The jackpot is currently estimated at $600 million, according to the California Lottery’s website. Similarly, the Mega Millions prize just increased to an estimated $815 million for Friday night’s drawing.