It feels like every time the jackpot crosses that billion-dollar mark, the winning ticket ends up somewhere between San Diego and Mount Shasta. Seriously. California has become the undisputed heavyweight champion of Powerball luck. If you’re asking who won the Powerball in California, you aren't just looking for one name. You’re looking for a small club of overnight billionaires who have changed the history of the game.
Most people remember the big one. The $2.04 billion. That’s a number so large it doesn’t even feel like real money anymore. But since then, the hits have kept coming.
The Names You Need to Know
Let's talk about Edwin Castro. He is basically the poster child for California lottery luck. Back in November 2022, he bought a ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena. He didn't just win; he broke the world record. $2.04 billion. For months, the world wondered who held that ticket. When he finally stepped forward, he didn't do a big press conference. He just released a statement saying he was "shocked and ecstatic."
Since then, he’s been spotted buying mansions in the Hollywood Hills. Honestly, can you blame him?
Then there was Yanira Alvarez. In July 2023, she hit a $1.08 billion jackpot. She bought her ticket at Las Palmitas Mini Market in downtown Los Angeles. It took her nearly eight months to come forward. Imagine sitting on a billion dollars for nearly a year. I’d be a nervous wreck.
The Frazier Park Mystery Group
Not all winners are solo acts. In October 2023, a group of people won $1.765 billion. They bought the ticket at Midway Market in Frazier Park, which is a tiny mountain town. The representative for the group was identified as Theodorus Struyck.
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Think about that. A small town of a few thousand people suddenly becomes the home of the second-largest jackpot in history. The store owner got a million-dollar bonus just for selling the ticket.
More Recent Wins (2025 and 2026)
Luck didn't stop in 2023. It’s been a busy couple of years.
- Rosa Chavez: In March 2025, she claimed a $526.5 million prize from a ticket she bought earlier that year.
- Linda Ramirez & Michael Rubio: This duo split a $204.5 million jackpot in May 2025.
- The Christmas Eve Luck: Just recently, on December 24, 2025, a ticket worth $2.8 million was sold in Chino Hills. It didn't hit the full $1.8 billion jackpot, but matching five numbers is still a life-changing holiday gift.
Most recently, in January 2026, LoisMarie Familar—a Los Angeles resident—went home to North Carolina for the holidays and won $150,000 on a Powerball ticket there. It's not a billion, but it shows that Californians seem to carry the luck with them wherever they go.
Why California Keeps Winning
It isn't a conspiracy. It’s basically just math.
California is the most populous state in the US. More people means more tickets sold. More tickets sold means a higher statistical probability that the winner will be wearing California plates. Plus, the state’s "pari-mutuel" system means that non-jackpot prizes (like matching 5 numbers) often pay out way more in California than they do in other states.
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If you win $1 million in Florida, you win $1 million. If you win that same prize in California, and ticket sales were high, you might walk away with $2.5 million.
Can you stay anonymous?
Short answer: No.
California law is very clear about this. The public has a right to know that a real person actually won the money. The Lottery has to release your full name and the location where you bought the ticket. They won't give out your address or your social security number, but your name is going to be in the headlines.
Edwin Castro tried to stay private, but his name is public record. That’s just the price of admission for a billion dollars.
What to Do If You're Next
If you find yourself staring at a ticket that matches all those numbers, don't run to the gas station immediately.
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- Sign the back. Right now. It’s a bearer instrument. If you lose it and haven't signed it, whoever finds it can technically claim it.
- Shut up. Don't post it on Instagram. Don't tell your "work bestie." Keep it quiet until you have a plan.
- Hire the "Big Three." You need a tax attorney, a certified financial planner, and an accountant. Not your cousin who does H&R Block. You need people who handle high-net-worth individuals.
- Decide on the Lump Sum vs. Annuity. Most California winners, like Edwin Castro and Yanira Alvarez, take the cash. It’s a smaller amount upfront, but you get it all now. The annuity pays out over 30 years and eventually totals the full advertised jackpot.
The Bigger Picture
Every time someone asks who won the Powerball in California, they often forget the "other" winner: the schools.
The California Lottery has raised over $41 billion for public education since 1985. Edwin Castro’s win alone generated over $156 million for the school system. So, even if your numbers didn't come up last night, a tiny bit of that $2 ticket is going toward a classroom somewhere.
If you’re holding a ticket right now, check the numbers on the official California Lottery app or website. Don't rely on third-party screenshots. And if you didn't win this time? Well, the next draw is usually just a couple of days away.
Next Steps for You:
- Check your old tickets; you have 180 days to claim most prizes in California, but a full year for the jackpot.
- Check the "Remaining Prizes" page on the CA Lottery site to see if any big Scratchers are still floating around your local zip code.
- Set a strict budget for play. The odds are 1 in 292.2 million—never play with money you need for rent.