What happens next when you win a Powerball jackpot?

Rob McMillan Image
Saturday, January 16, 2016
What happens next when you win a Powerball jackpot?
Many wonder what happens after someone wins a Powerball jackpot. One of the first steps is getting to a lottery office with the winning ticket.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- California Lottery officials confirmed a winning ticket for the record-breaking Powerball jackpot drawn on Wednesday was sold at a Chino Hills' 7-Eleven. The only thing is no one has come forward to claim the prize.

In order for the winner to claim prize, they must show up to a California Lottery office with the original ticket. So far lottery officials said that hasn't happened.

MORE: Winning $1.5B Powerball jackpot ticket sold in Chino Hills, lottery officials say

California Lottery spokesperson Russ Lopez explained that when the winner shows up, an extensive vetting process takes place to make sure they're the actual winner.

Officials will even check store surveillance video from the time when the ticket was purchased.

"We look at the ticket, we make sure this is a valid ticket, this is the right ticket, this is the right person, the signatures match, we look at identities and we look at a lot of things. People shouldn't be intimidated. This is for their own safety," Lopez said.

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If someone does come forward, they won't be allowed to stay anonymous, per state law.

"All lottery winners names are public record," Lopez said. "We also have to remind the public we're a state agency. We have to be transparent."

The odds of winning the Powerball are one in 292.2 million.