Research Sources

Every data point is backed by verified, publicly accessible sources

2777
Total Sources
201
Winners Documented
13.8
Avg Sources/Winner
🏛️
Government Records
DOJ, courts, gaming commissions
📺
Major News Networks
CBS, NBC, AP, Reuters
🎰
Official Lottery Data
State lotteries, Powerball.com

Sources by Category

Sample articles from our research, organized by publication type

📺

Major News Networks

50 sources

CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, CNN, The Guardian - national coverage of lottery winners

Newsweek·Big Money, Big Trouble - Newsweek
CBS News·Millionaires Have Bartender To Thank - CBS News
Fox News·Nevada Couple Wins $15 Million Lottery After Cashing in $10000 Winning Ticket
CBS News·WWII Vet Is $254M Powerball Winner - CBS News
The Guardian·Staten Island plumber unearths $136m lottery ticket from his basement - The Guardian
CBS News·Staten Island Plumber Wins $136 Million Powerball Jackpot - CBS New York
TIME·$425 Million Powerball Jackpot Winner Comes Forward - Time Magazine
The Guardian·$425m Powerball winner claims prize | US news - The Guardian
CBS News·Sole winner of $425M Powerball jackpot claims prize - CBS News
CBS News·California's $425M Powerball Winner Comes Forward - CBS Los Angeles
CBS News·Four Share $340M Powerball Prize - CBS News
People Magazine·Co-Worker Jokes That Man Skipped Work Because He Won the Lottery. Turns Out, He Really Did! - People.com
Newsweek·$344M Powerball Jackpot Winner Picked Numbers From Fortune Cookie: 'I Didn't Know How Much I Had Won Until I Googled It' - Newsweek
People Magazine·Retiree Wins $344M Lottery After Playing Numbers From Fortune Cookie - People.com
CBS News·$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot winner in Oregon revealed: "I have been blessed"
🎰

Official Lottery Sources

50 sources

State lottery commissions and Powerball.com official announcements

Powerball.com·Powerball Draw Result - Sat, Jan 27, 2007
megamillions.com·Jackpot History - Mega Millions
nclottery.com·Life after Powerball: An $88.1 million winner speaks - NC Education Lottery
Powerball.com·Media Center - Powerball
Powerball.com·Powerball Draw Result - Sat, Jun 27, 2009
Powerball.com·Powerball Draw Result - Wed, May 27, 2009
Powerball.com·FLORIDA LOTTERY'S NINTH POWERBALL WINNER CLAIMS $80 MILLION PRIZE
Powerball.com·Powerball Draw Result - Wed, Nov 1, 2006
Powerball.com·Winner claims $425.3 million Powerball® ticket sold in Milpitas!
Powerball.com·Becky Bell of Auburn, Washington Claims $754.6 Million Powerball Jackpot
Powerball.com·WA Lottery: Becky Bell of Auburn Claims $754.6 Million Powerball Jackpot
Powerball.com·$150 Million Powerball Ticket Claimed!
Powerball.com·Centro de prensa - Powerball
Powerball.com·Powerball Draw Result - Sat, May 28, 2005
Powerball.com·$204.5 million Powerball jackpot won in California
🏛️

Government & Court Records

34 sources

Department of Justice, ProPublica nonprofit records, state legislature filings

ProPublica·Mmm Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·Stars United Sc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·West Family Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·Duke Family Foundation Inc - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·Carl And Lulu Mitchell Family Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·The@Vincent E And Mary Judith Shaw Family Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·The Christopher And Lucille Ewen Family Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
U.S. Dept. of Justice·Conagra Grocery Products - Civil Division - Department of Justice
ProPublica·Gretna Fire Museum - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
U.S. Dept. of Justice·United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Florida-Based Dermatology Practice for $3 Million - Department of Justice
ProPublica·Ud Madelaine G Vonweber - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·End 68 Hours Of Hunger - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·John And Susan Brands Charitable Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·Callum Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
ProPublica·Roy Cockrum Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
📋

Obituaries & Death Records

27 sources

Legacy.com - for death verification and family records

Legacy.com·Jeffrey Scott Wilson Obituary (2025) - Gastonia, NC - Greene Funeral Service & Crematorium - South Chapel - Legacy
Legacy.com·Mark Hill Obituary (2019) - Gower, MO - Kansas City Star - Legacy
Legacy.com·Connie Daily Obituary (1935 - 2023) - Muldrow, OK - Sequoyah County Times - Legacy
Legacy.com·Connie Daily Obituary (1935 - 2023) - Muldrow, OK - Eastern Times-Register - Legacy
Legacy.com·DONALD HARVEY Obituary (1933 - 2015) - Choctaw, OK - Oklahoman - Legacy
Legacy.com·Donald Harvey Obituary (2024) - Midwest City, OK - Barnes-Friederich & Pope Funeral Home - Legacy
Legacy.com·Donna Lange Obituary (1938 - 2019) - St. Anna, MN - St. Cloud Times - Legacy
Legacy.com·James Stocklas Obituary (1977 - 2018) - Bethlehem, PA - Morning Call - Legacy
Legacy.com·Anthony DeStephano Obituary (2015) - York, PA - York Daily Record - Legacy
Legacy.com·Darlene Bortner Obituary (2013) - York, PA - Evening Sun - Legacy
Legacy.com·David Tallbacka Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information - Legacy
Legacy.com·In Loving Memory of Michael Duncan - Obituaries & Ways to Support the Family - Legacy
Legacy.com·Michael Duncan Obituary (2025) - Clinton, TN - Holley-Gamble Funeral Home, Inc. - Legacy
Legacy.com·Muncie Meade Obituary (2010) - Dema, KY - Legacy
Legacy.com·Julie Shue Knight Obituary (2025) - Reidsville, NC - Wilkerson Funeral Home and Crematory - Legacy
⚖️

Legal Sources

26 sources

Justia, Courthouse News - court filings and legal proceedings

Justia Law·FERRARI v. LEIB, No. 2:2024cv07753 - Document 13 (D.N.J. 2024) - Justia Law
Justia Law·THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY v. ABRAMS et al, No. 2:2011cv01567 - Document 183 (W.D. Pa. 2012) - Justia Law
Justia Law·Coterel v. Reed - Ohio Case Law
Justia Law·Dave Honeywell, Appellant V. Washington State Department Of Ecology, Respondent (Majority) - Justia Law
Justia Law·Escobedo et al v. Dynasty Insulation, Inc., No. 3:2008cv00137
courthousenews.com·Rules - Courthouse News Service
courthousenews.com·Powerball Winner - Courthouse News Service
courthousenews.com·'A Huge Mistake': NH Lotto Winner Sues for Anonymity | Courthouse News Service
Justia Law·2006 Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Case Law
Justia Law·In re Whittaker Clark & Daniels Inc., No. 24-2210 (3d Cir. 2025) - Justia Law
courthousenews.com·Powerball Winner Who Regretted It Dies at 72 | Courthouse News Service
Justia Law·Whitaker v. Poole, No. 1:2004cv00022 - Document 17 (W.D.N.Y. 2009) - Justia Law
courthousenews.com·Jack Whittaker | Courthouse News Service
Justia Law·105-163.2B. North Carolina State Lottery Commission must withhold taxes. - Justia Law
Justia Law·Susan Brands, Respondent, v. Savvy Surrounding Style, LLC, Appellant. - Justia Law
📡

Wire Services

18 sources

Associated Press, Reuters - primary news wire services

Associated Press·A massive Powerball win draws attention to a little-known immigrant culture in the US
Associated Press·Winner of $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer - AP News
Associated Press·Lawyer for trust claims $457 million Powerball ticket | AP News
Associated Press·Someone could win $1.8B Powerball jackpot Saturday. Odds are their identity will remain a mystery - AP News
Associated Press·From Powerball winner to scandal: Jack Whittaker dies at 72 | AP News
Associated Press·Iowa winner claims huge Powerball jackpot | AP News
Associated Press·Can a lottery winner run an effective foundation? Meet Roy Cockrum | AP News
Associated Press·$425 million Powerball winner wants privacy - AP News
Associated Press·Kentucky man who won Powerball jackpot lands in Florida jail days later - AP News
Associated Press·Top 10 US Lottery Jackpots - AP News
Associated Press·$768M Wisconsin Powerball winner 'pretty much felt lucky' - AP News
Associated Press·Winner of lottery can stay anonymous thanks to state's law - AP News
Associated Press·Hard-luck Maryland town gets a $731.1 million Powerball win | AP News
Associated Press·NJ Sandy victims introduced as Powerball winners - AP News
Associated Press·$338M NJ Powerball winner says he'll help family | AP News

Data Quality Standards

60
Verified
Court/official docs
100
High
Multi-source confirmed
19
Medium
Single reliable source
1
Low
Limited data

Verification Process

  • ✓All winner identities confirmed via official lottery announcements
  • ✓Financial data cross-referenced with court records where available
  • ✓Death records verified through obituaries and official sources
  • ✓Contradictory information flagged and excluded from statistics
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