California Lottery Winners
In the Golden State, many jackpots have been won since the launch of the lottery. The most famous wins are those of multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions. Between both games, the jackpot has been won in California more than 50 times. Here are some of the biggest wins in California:
$1.22 Billion
California’s biggest Mega Millions win arrived just after Christmas in 2024, following a run of draws without a winner that stretched back to the middle of September. The jackpot had just crossed the billion-dollar barrier and was on the brink of setting a new record for the lottery, when one lucky ticket matched all the numbers. It was sold in Cottonwood, at the Circle K on Rhonda Road, just off Interstate 5 in Shasta County. The money was claimed by Rosemary Casarotti.
$543 Million
Eleven co-workers won this big California Mega Millions jackpot. The prize was claimed by a representative of the group, Roland Reyes. The winners chose the cash option and each of them took home approximately $50 million before taxes. Roland shared: “If I could win, anybody could win. We’re just normal people!”
$530 Million
The winning ticket for this huge jackpot was purchased at the Sorrento Deli Mart, which is only a short walk from the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course. The big prize was claimed by a single winning ticket and the winner took the cash option of $345.2 million.
$2.04 Billion
After 40 rollovers, this Powerball grand prize pushed past $2 billion for the first time in history. The impressive jackpot was won by Edwin Castro, who bought his ticket in Altadena. The lucky (or luckiest) winner chose the cash option of $997.6 million.
$1.76 Billion
The second place in the top of the biggest Powerball jackpots is also occupied by California. After 35 rollovers, the grand prize was finally won by a single winning ticket which was purchased at the Midway Market and Liquor in Frazier Park in Kern County. The prize was claimed by a group of winners, represented by Theodorus Struyck.
$1.58 Billion
Three winning tickets managed to match the numbers for this draw. One of them was purchased in California, while the other two in Tennessee and Florida. Marvin and Mae Acosta from Chino Hills claimed their prize approximately half a year after the winning draw and took a cash payment of $327 million.
$193 Million
On February 16, 2002, the largest SuperLotto Plus jackpot was won. The big prize was worth $193 million and there were only three winning tickets. The amount was equally shared among them. One third of the prize was claimed by couple Paul and Rose Briscoe from Orange County. They were on holiday when they realized they had won and shared that “it was just unfathomable that you could win the Lotto. Our dream came true”. The winner who bought the second lucky ticket was Andy Kampe from Half Moon Bay, who chose to receive his winnings in annual installments. The third and last winner who came forward to claim her part of the prize was Welma Naguit. She didn’t purchase the ticket herself and asked her relatives in Montebello to buy one as she was away in the Philippines, her homeland. Welma decided to receive her prize as a lump sum, approximately $32 million before taxes.
$1.1 Million
California's Fantasy Five saw an exciting moment in lottery history on February 20, 2021, when $1.1 million, the highest jackpot of the game to date, was shared by four winners. Each of these lucky individuals received a payout of $292,515. These big wins were spread across Atwater, Hawthorne, (two winning tickets sold here), and Whittier. This draw highlighted the thrill of Fantasy Five and showcased how luck can strike at unexpected places across the Sunshine State!