Yanira Alvarez

Powerball Winner • CA • 2023

Jackpot (2024$)

$1,080,000,000

lump sum

Age at Win

Unknown

Low-wage sector worker (Fashion District, Los Angeles)

Quick Facts

Win Date: July 19, 2023
State: CA
Winner Type: individual
Ticket Type: Own Numbers
Payment Choice: lump sum
After Tax: $360M

Timeline

Jul 19, 2023win

Won $1.08B jackpot at Las Palmitas Mini Market using self-selected numbers

Jul 20, 2023win

Impersonator incident - Woman appears at store on camera claiming to be winner (later proven false)

Oct 16, 2023win

Filed official claim with California Lottery (~3 months after win)

Mar 29, 2024other

Identity publicly announced by California Lottery after 5+ months of vetting. Received $558.1M lump sum. Declined all public comment.

Aug 1, 2024other

Posted on Facebook seeking to help community members in need - only known public statement

Jan 28, 2025win

Stacy Tru files lawsuit claiming SHE is the true winner, seeking $1.08B + interest

May 12, 2025lawsuit

California Attorney General's Office files motion to dismiss Tru's lawsuit

Aug 21, 2025win

Judge Upinder S. Kalra declines to dismiss but gives Tru 21 days to file amended complaint with actual evidence. Tru has no winning ticket.

Notable Quotes

"Once we say 'Yanira Alvarez is the winner'... that is a signal that there is no question. We have turned over every stone. We have the utmost confidence in that win."
— -

"Hispanic lady, an old lady. 100% a Latina lady."
— -

"I know that true wealth isn't just about money – it's about the positive impact we can have on others"
— suggests charitable intentions over consumption.

Analysis

Protective Factors

+Declined all media interviews
+Total privacy maintained 2.5 years
+No visible lifestyle inflation
+Professional wealth management presumed
+Self-selected numbers (not random)

How They Found Out

Yanira Alvarez discovered her $1.08 billion win but said nothing. No press conference. No interviews. No celebration photos. California law forced her name public, but that's all she gave. The only witness account came from a store worker who described "a Hispanic lady, an old lady" buying the ticket. The day after the win, an impersonator appeared at Las Palmitas claiming to be the winner - quickly proven false. But Yanira herself? Still silent. Her discovery moment remains her secret.

Research Quality: verified • Last Updated: 12/24/2024 • Years Tracked: 2

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