Powerball Winner • CA • 2016
Jackpot (2024$)
$700,000,000
lump sum
Age at Win
39
Acostas buy 5-bedroom home in Eastvale for $475,000
MUSL changed odds to 1 in 292.2 million, engineering bigger jackpots
First billion-dollar lottery jackpot in history. Three winning tickets: California, Florida, Tennessee. Acostas hold California ticket. 28,000 tickets/minute sold at peak.
Thousands descend on store within hour. News helicopters circle. Crowds chant Chino Hills! Store owner Balbir Atwal receives $1M retailer bonus.
Acostas move out of Eastvale home Thursday before Friday claim. House empty when media arrives.
188 days after win, Acostas claim at Van Nuys lottery office. Flanked by security and attorneys. Zero interviews, zero photos. Only release prepared statement.
50-acre horse property sells for $6.305M - most expensive in city history. Timing and location strongly suggest Acostas.
"We are thankful and blessed for the rare gift that has been placed in our care. We have engaged a team of advisors to educate and guide us through this process so that we can be good stewards of these new resources. While many decisions are still to be made, we have committed nearly all of this new resource to a Trust and to charities that are important to us. While we are very grateful for the wonderful wishes and encouragement we've received, it is not our intention to become public figures, and we ask for and appreciate privacy going forward."
The winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills during what appears to be a routine commute. Within an hour of the January 13, 2016 drawing announcement, thousands descended on the store. News helicopters circled and crowds chanted "Chino Hills!" The Acostas waited 188 days to claim, executing the "Ghost Protocol" - moving out of their Eastvale home the Thursday before their Friday claim.