Is this the Skid Row billionaire? Astonishing Video Shows Sobbing Woman Showing Up At Downtown LA Bodega Who Sold $1 Billion Powerball Winning Ticket Shouting ‘It’s Me’
A woman who claims to have won the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot burst into hysterics when she returned to the small grocery store in downtown Los Angeles that sold the lucky ticket.
Wednesday’s winner secured the third-largest jackpot in the game’s 30-year history after the top prize went up in three months of draws with no one taking the top prize.
Two days later, astonishing videos emerged of a California woman sobbing and hyperventilating at Las Palmitas Mini Market, who has been confirmed as the seller of the winning ticket.
The seemingly newly-made billionaire struggled to talk through tears as she told stunned onlookers that she had landed the life-changing sum.
Wearing a black cap with a denim jacket and bright green leggings, the woman screamed loud enough to be heard nearby, according to reporters who had been waiting at the scene.
Amazing videos have surfaced of the newly made billionaire sobbing and hyperventilating as she claimed to have won the colossal prize
California Lottery officials previously confirmed that Las Palmitas Mini Market was the store where the winning ticket was sold, close to the homeless camps on Skid Row and just 13 miles from the outlet where Edwin Castro won $2.08 billion in November
At one point, the ecstatic woman collapses to her knees at the store’s doorway, waving her arms in the air.
“I’m scared now, I’m so scared,” she says, adding “God bless you” as she hugs several people in the store.
Stunned onlookers watched her reaction as reporters scrambled for answers.
When a journalist asks “are you the winner?” the woman tearfully replies “yes” before running into the street as she is chased by cameras.
The $1.08 billion winning ticket in Wednesday’s drawing was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market, owned by retailer Nabor Herrera (above) who will receive a $1 million shopping bonus
You can hear her say “Got to find him” as she takes a break for it, reportedly climbing into a dark BMW.
California Lottery officials have previously confirmed that Las Palmitas Mini Market is the store where the winning lottery ticket was sold, and for transparency reasons they are required to eventually identify the claimant.
A narrow hole in the wall with shelves stocked with snacks and other items, the store is not far from poverty-stricken Skid Row, where homeless camps line the streets.
The owner, Nabor Herrera, also receives a $1 million bonus from Powerball.
Herrera said he didn’t realize he had sold the winning ticket until he arrived at work early Thursday and saw cameras camped out in front of the store, which he initially thought were for a movie scene.
“I tell you, it’s a surprise to me, I didn’t know what it is – filming or whatever,” the father of four told KTLA TV.
Herrera, who has owned the store for seven years, said Thursday he had no idea who bought the winning ticket, adding that he had sold many Powerball tickets in recent days, mostly to locals in the area.
The jackpot is the third largest in Powerball history and was chosen after three months of draws with no winner
The seemingly newly-made billionaire struggled to talk through tears as she told stunned onlookers she had cashed in the life-changing amount
At one point, the ecstatic woman even drops to her knees in the doorway of the store
The retailer said he planned to use his $1 million seller bonus to expand his business and perhaps take his family on a week-long vacation to Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas.
By a twist of fate, his store is also just 13 miles from the outlet where Powerball winner Edwin Castro purchased his lottery ticket for the $2.04 billion jackpot in November – the largest in US history.
In February, 31-year-old Castro came forward to claim the winnings from November’s drawing, electing to receive the $997.6 million buyout.
But his win has since been questioned by Jose Rivera, who has filed a lawsuit against Castro claiming he is the true owner of the winning Powerball ticket.
The $1.04 billion winning lottery ticket in Wednesday’s drawing was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market, whose owners will receive a $1 million bonus
In June, the sidewalks of Skid Row are lined with tents set up by people who are homeless. A winning Powerball ticket was sold a few blocks away on Wednesday
Rivera claims that his landlord, Urachi Romero, stole it from him and tried to blackmail him in return for it being returned.
When Rivera reportedly refused to bow to the blackmail, he says Castro took the profits.
Rivera has not said how Castro got the golden ticket.
This week’s Powerball winner has one year to officially report.
Big jackpot winners often wait weeks or even months to claim the prize, assembling a team of financial and legal advisors.
Wednesday’s winner can choose between the total $1.08 billion paid out in annual increments over 29 years, or a one-time lump sum of $558.1 million before taxes.
This week’s winning ticket was sold just 13 miles from the convenience store where Powerball winner Edwin Castro (right) bought his ticket for the $2.04 billion jackpot in November
The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s draw were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24.
California requires lottery winners to disclose their names when claiming prizes, a measure designed to protect the integrity of drawings through transparency.
The game’s abysmal odds – where winning the jackpot is only one in 292.2 million – are designed to build big prizes that attract more players.
Wednesday’s top prize is the third largest Powerball jackpot and the sixth largest in US lottery history.