California Lottery Regulations
As per California Lottery regulations, the lottery results are subject to pubic disclosure laws, necessitating the public revelation of certain information about the winner;
Complete legal name of the winner.
Detailed information about the amount of winnings, inclusive of gross or net installment payment details.
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was sold.
Who was the lucky winner?
A resident of California, Edwin Castro emerged not only as the winner of the biggest lottery winner in USA but also as the winner of the world’s greatest jackpot in a national lottery. He overcame the odds of 1 in 292.2 million with winning numbers of 10, 33, 41, 47, 56 and a Powerball of 10, making him the sole winner . Information on the winnner is limited due to California laws.
Opting for immediate access to his massive prize, Edwin Castro decided to receive a single reduced lump sum of $997.6 million (£872 million) rather than receiving it in installments spread over 29 years. Also, his winnings were subject to federal and jurisdictional taxes.
A Whopping Boost for California’s State School System
In accordance with California law, lottery winners are required to submit their winning ticket within one year, and their name and winnings must be publicly disclosed as part of the official record. Any unclaimed winnings are subsequently allocated to the state’s public school system.
In spite of the winnings being claimed on this specific occasion, the California school system still managed to generate more than $156 million (£136 million) through the sales of lottery tickets.
Although he was named, Edwin Castro chose not to participate in the press announcement or divulge additional details about himself, as he values his privacy and wishes to maintain it. Nevertheless, he did issue a concise statement expressing his “shock” and “ecstasy” at the news. Mr. Castro added that he received his education from the California public education system and found it rewarding to know that his win would significantly benefit the same system.
Lucky Store Owner and 23 Winners Celebrate Big Payouts
For selling the winning ticket, the store owner, Joe Chahayed, who sold the ticket, also received a $1 million prize. Furthermore, 22 individuals secured a prize of $1 million each by matching five numbers without the Powerball, while one fortunate participant won $2 million by matching five numbers with the x2 multiplier.
History of biggest lottery winnings in the USA
Previously, the highest jackpot ever recorded in a national lottery was $1.58 billion (£1.09 billion). This enormous sum was won in the Powerball by three individuals from California, Florida and Tennesee, on January 13, 2016, following 19 consecutive draws without a winner.
Here are other record-breaking U.S. jackpots and the lucky states of winning tickets
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)
$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, from Wisconsin)
$758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
$731.1 million, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021 (one ticket, from Maryland)
$699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021 (one ticket, from California)
$687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018 (two tickets, from Iowa and New York)