All news

California Lottery finally pays $44M Powerball winner after long delay

The man received a lump sum payme🐼nt of almost $17 m🦋illion about 12 weeks after hitting the jackpot.

Orange County Powerball jackpot winner
Jerry, Orange County Powerball jackpot winner. Photograph credit to abc7.
Todd Betzold

You might think the hardest part of winning a $44 million lottery jackpot would be picking the winning numbers. However, a California man recently discovered the real challenge came after his big win — waiting to be paid out by the 加拿大28预测开奖:California Lottery.

After what felt like an eternity of red tape, the Orange County man was finally able to claim his life-changing prize. It may have taken him longer than expected, but he is now a millionaire.

Where it all got started

Back in August, Jerry, a California man, walked into his neighborhood Ralph’s and bought a ticket for Powerball. Jerry picked his own winning numbers for the ticket by using some of his favorite numbers.

Those favorites paid off, as he ended up matching all of the winning numbers for the August 19, 2024, drawing to win the $44 million jackpot. For reference, the winning white ball numbers for that night were 1, 2, 15, 23, and 28, and the Powerball number was 10.

Then the waiting began

Right after his big win, Jerry said he wasted no time in trying to get his money. As 加拿大28预测开奖:Lottery USA previously reported, Jerry put in a claim to the jackpot with the California Lottery.

While Jerry was quick with the claim, he said back in October that it had been nine weeks and he was still waiting for his payout.

Jerry did say at the time that he was a regular lottery player, but he wasn’t familiar with the claims process. According to an official with the California State Lottery, the quickest a winner would be paid from a large jackpot, like the $44 million jackpot that Jerry won, would be about four weeks. However, it doesn’t typically happen that fast.

The lottery representative said it usually takes six to eight weeks from the time the winner submits their claim to be paid out, if not longer. This process includes a vetting process, which has steps in order to see if the winner owes back taxes or child support.

The waiting is finally over

After almost 12 weeks of waiting for his money, Jerry told ABC7 Los Angeles that he was able to pick up his check about two weeks ago. He went for the lump-sum option when claiming his prize, so he got almost $17 million after taxes were withheld.

"I felt great but I was so stressed about it," Jerry told ABC7 Los Angeles. "I am thankful. I am going to be a millionaire for the rest of my life."

After receiving his winnings, Jerry said he quickly paid off his home and has started to make some improvements already. He also invested some of the winnings and shared some of the money with his family.

While he is happy he finally did get his money, he said he is still disappointed that the state took almost 12 weeks to pay him his winnings. Jerry is hoping other winners won’t have to wait as long as he did.

Enjoy playing the California Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

The poster for the documentary "Jackpot: America's Biggest Lotto Scam."
Free documentary reveals how one man fooled an entire lottery sys🐻tem

The new film shows how the lottery security chief beca🦩me the biggest 🃏cheater.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The Harris County Court House.
Texas Lottery gets a legal break, but t🃏he bigger battle i𝓰s just beginning

With the lawsuit dropped, attention shifts to an agency 📖under fire and a jackpot winner st💮ill fighting.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The 7-eleven located at 8960 Woodman Ave, Arleta, California.
California Po🐎werball player wins $204.5 million jackpot

The lu🔯cky Powerball winner is the fourth Powerball to take home the jackpot this year.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

18-year-old Juliette Lamour won $48 million playing Lotto 6/49 in Canada.
Survey says jackpot🥂 winners pick mom first — who would you c💮all?

But not everyone dials Mom — some winners g🍎o for friends, spouses..., and even ex-wives.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
Alabama Governor hopeful addressed the f꧃uture of the lotter🍷y in the state

Senator insists lottery commissions m🔯ake no money from ꦜgames.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

The poster for the documentary "Jackpot: America's Biggest Lotto Scam."
Free documentary reveals how one man fooled an entire lot🦂tery system

The new film shཧow🐠s how the lottery security chief became the biggest cheater.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

The Harris County Court House.
Texas Lottery gets a legal bඣreak, but the bigger ba✅ttle is just beginning

Wi🎃th the lawsuit dropped, attention shifts t🐟o an agency under fire and a jackpot winner still fighting.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

The 7-eleven located at 8960 Woodman Ave, Arleta, California.
Califo༺rnia Powerball p🔯layer wins $204.5 million jackpot

The lucky Powerball win🍌ner is the fourth Pow⛎erball to take home the jackpot this year.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy