Who won the $1.7B Powerball jackpot to become America's newest billionaire?
Los Angeles, California - A Californian has just struck it rich, winning an astounding $1.7 billion, making it the second-largest Powerball jackpot in the history of the game.
As word of the enormous win spread like wildfire through the small, close-knit community of Frazier Park, located about 90 miles outside of Los Angeles, the question on everyone's mind is: Who just became a billionaire overnight?
The winning ticket was purchased at the Lake of the Woods Midway Market and Liquor Store, nestled near the Lake Of The Woods mobile village in Frazier Park, reported Jim Moret from Inside Edition.
This charming community is one where everyone knows each other's name, a place where neighbors share stories over picket fences and help each other out in times of need.
"I couldn't believe it because it's such a small town, such a small little store," remarked one resident, still trying to come to terms with the magnitude of the win.
"You're right next door to a mobile home park. It's very likely that the person walked over from there, and bought the ticket. It could be the owner's son."
Indeed, Andy Khahlil, the owner of Midway Market and Liquor Store revealed that they had sold only 200 tickets for this record-breaking Powerball drawing.
Store employees are now feverishly reviewing surveillance footage, hoping to catch a glimpse of the newest billionaire in town.
"I can't wait to know," said an eager store employee. "We're all dying to know who it is."
The Midway Market and Liquor Store is not new to such excitement, as it has seen its fair share of winners.
"We do have winners come in the very first day," Andy stated. But this is no ordinary win. If the jackpot winner chooses to take the lump sum, they will pocket a staggering $756.6 million before the taxman takes his share.
As the nation eagerly awaits the identity of the newest Powerball billionaire, speculation is rife about whether they live in the nearby mobile home park or perhaps in one of the modest houses nearby.
For now, the mystery lingers, and Frazier Park is buzzing with excitement, captivated by the hope that their friendly neighborhood just became home to America's newest billionaire.
To participate in Powerball, the minimum ticket cost is $2.
For each game, participants choose five numbers from a pool of 69 white balls and one number from a selection of 26 red Powerballs. The red ball number can match one of the white balls.
The order in which the five white balls are drawn is irrelevant; all tickets display the white ball numbers in ascending order.
It is not permissible for players to use the drawn Powerball number to match one of their selected white numbers, or vice versa.
Players have the option to manually select their numbers or allow a computer terminal to randomly generate them, commonly referred to as "quick pick" or "easy pick" depending on the state's terminology.
In each drawing:
The winning numbers are determined using two separate ball machines, one holding the white balls and the other the red Powerballs.
Five white balls are drawn from the first machine, and the red ball is drawn from the second machine.
Prizes are awarded to games that match at least three white balls or the red Powerball.