The life of a person in the United States changed radically this weekend after winning 526.5 million dollars with a Powerball ticket purchased at a 7-Eleven store in Anaheim, Orange County, California.
It's the second jackpot that Powerball has awarded so far in 2025.
The frequency with which the grand prize falls in the state of California is starting to raise suspicion among some citizens. In fact, there have been some in the last few hours who have tagged DOGE to investigate this peculiar recurrence.
An elusive prize since January
The winning ticket this time was purchased at the establishment located at 763 North Euclid Street, in Anaheim.
With this purchase, its owner broke a streak of 28 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, since January 18, when a citizen of Oregon won 328.5 million dollars.
The lucky person guessed the six winning numbers: the white balls 7, 11, 21, 53, and 61, and the red Powerball was the number 2.
The Power Play multiplier was 3X, which increased the minor prizes for other participants.
How much money will the winner actually receive?
Although the announced prize was $526.5 million, that amount is subject to the payment method and federal taxes.
The winner has two options:
One-time payment:
The immediate alternative is a disbursement of 243.8 million dollars, but with a 37% withholding for federal taxes. The final net amount is reduced to 153.6 million dollars.
In any case, it is a life-changing sum of millions that started from a minimal investment of 2 dollars, the cost of each Powerball ticket.
Annual payment:
It is delivered in 30 years, starting with an immediate payment and 29 subsequent payments that increase by 5% each year.
If you choose this option, and after deducting the federal tax of 37%, the net total would be approximately 332,984,400 dollars, which is about 11.1 million per year. It is noteworthy that no state taxes are applied to lottery winnings in California.
Bonus for the selling store
The location where the winning ticket was sold will also be rewarded.
The 7-Eleven store in Anaheim will receive a bonus of 1 million dollars, the maximum prize awarded by the California Lottery to businesses that sell winning jackpot tickets.
Other winners of the raffle
In addition to the grand prize, the drawing on March 29 created five new millionaires, each winning one million dollars after correctly picking five out of the six numbers.
These tickets were sold in Georgia (two winners), Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.
In total, more than 928,000 tickets were winning entries in this drawing, which reinforces the appeal of Powerball despite the minimal odds of winning the jackpot, estimated at 1 in 292.2 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.
The Powerball Fever
Powerball is one of the most popular lotteries in the United States. Tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The excitement of participating and the possibility, albeit remote, of winning millions with a minimal investment continues to attract millions of players every week.
Although the identity of the new billionaire from Anaheim is currently unknown, their story has already become part of the collective imagination of those who dream of changing their fate with a single ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions about the $526.5 Million Powerball Prize
How much money will the Powerball winner really take home after taxes?
The Powerball winner can receive approximately $332,984,400 if they choose the annual payment option, after applying the federal tax of 37%. If they opt for the lump sum payment, the net amount would be $153.6 million.
Where was the winning Powerball ticket for 526.5 million dollars sold?
The winning Powerball ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven store located at 763 North Euclid Street, in Anaheim, California. This store will receive a bonus of 1 million dollars from the California Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
How does the Power Play multiplier affect Powerball winnings?
The Power Play multiplier increases the minor prizes for other participants in the Powerball draw. In this case, the multiplier was 3X, meaning that prizes other than the jackpot were multiplied by three, thereby increasing the value of the secondary prizes.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. Despite these low odds, Powerball remains one of the most popular lotteries in the United States.
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