One lucky person just became a billionaire in California in an instant. How did they do it exactly? They purchased the only matching Powerball ticket worth more than $2 billion. That is some serious money. Here's a closer look...
The winning ticket has set a record for the biggest lottery prize in history with $2.04 billion, and this is the first time someone will become a billionaire from winning a lottery ticket. The ticket was purchased at Joe’s Service Center, and they have plenty of reasons to celebrate, about one million. Joseph Chahayed, the owner of Joe’s, received an early morning surprise when lottery officials showed up at his store at 5:45 am and awarded him a $1 million bonus check because his store sold the winning lotto ticket. Chahayed says he plans to share the money with his 11 grandchildren and his family. He told reporters, “I’m happy for California; I’m happy for L.A. I’m more happy for Altadena. There are a lot of poor people here; they deserve it.”
Chahayed expressed his hope that the instant billionaire would come from the neighborhood. Chahayed is not the only one to benefit from the ticket. California schools will receive $156.3 million from the jackpot. Everyone has been on the edge of their seats to see who will come forward to claim the big prize. When they were first supposed to draw the winning number, the Powerball drawing was postponed for ten hours for an undisclosed security issue in another state. The winning numbers, 10-33-41-47-56 Power 10, were announced ten hours after the drawing was meant to take place. In order to win, the ticket must match all five numbers and the Powerball number. Additionally, smaller prizes can still be won if the ticket matches some of the numbers. As of now, the winner of the $2 billion lottery has still not come forward.
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Recently, an Illinois resident won $1.33 billion in the lottery. Now the entire nation is watching to see who will end up claiming this ticket. What is the first thing you would do if you won the lotto?
