SoCal winner of $1.7B Powerball jackpot still a mystery, but store owners to get $1M
FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- We now know the latest lottery billionaire bought their ticket in Southern California - the third $1 billion-plus ticket sold in the state in just the last year.
But it could be a while before we know who that lucky winner is.
The ticket for Wednesday's $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot was sold at a liquor store in Kern County.
California Lottery officials on Wednesday noted that the winner has up to a year to come forward to claim the prize. And after that, the lottery's claim process team can take 6 to 8 weeks to review and confirm the winning ticket.
"We won't know who that person is - or maybe it's a group of friends or family members who play together - until they come forward," said California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker.
Similarly we also still don't know the identity of the last lottery billionaire - a ticket that was also sold in Southern California.
On July 19 a ticket sold in downtown Los Angeles matched all six numbers and won $1.08 billion.
California Lottery officials confirmed on Wednesday that person has still not stepped forward to claim the prize.
After that drawing, the Powerball reset to $20 million. It was then drawn 35 consecutive times without a winner and once again crossed that billion-dollar threshold, becoming the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history. And while Powerball is played across 45 states, that second big winner was sold only about 100 miles from the summer billion-dollar winner.
The owners of the store that sold the most recent jackpot are entitled to a $1 million bonus - minus federal taxes - from the lottery.
Andy Khalil, who co-owns Midway Market and Liquor with his brother, said he'll use his share of the bonus to help pay for his children's college.
"I want to thank Frazier Park people for supporting a small business such as us," Khalil said. "Also I want to thank the lottery team for the effort and the good service provided for us."
"I only get half the money," he noted. "The other half goes to my brother. I want to make sure my kids have enough funds for college."
We do know the identity of one of the other winners from the latest lottery draw: California public schools.
Sales from the latest jackpot, which started in July, racked up some $119.5 million for the state's public schools, including K-12 as well as public colleges and universities.
The winning numbers in the drawing were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10.
This week's jackpot is the world's second-largest lottery prize after rolling over for 36 consecutive drawings, since the last time someone won the top prize on July 19. That streak trails the record of 41 draws set in 2021 and 2022.
The only top prize that was ever bigger was the $2.04 billion Powerball won by a player in California last November.
The $1.7 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment through an annuity, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Wednesday night's drawing is estimated at $774.1 million.
Besides the jackpot ticket sold in Frazier Park, Atlantic Wine and Spirits in Monterey Park sold a 5/5 ticket. That ticket is worth $760,111.
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The Powerball now resets at $20 million.
Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
