Tiny store near LA’s Skid Row sells winning Powerball ticket
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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A tiny neighborhood store in downtown Los Angeles sold the winning ticket for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth largest in U.S. history and the third largest in the history of the game.
The winning numbers for Wednesday night's drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24.
The winner can choose either the total jackpot paid out in yearly increments or a $558.1 million lump sum before taxes. Winners don't have to come forward publicly but their names and the disposition of the money are public records, according to the California Lottery.
The winning ticket was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market, which will receive a $1 million bonus from the lottery. Lottery officials presented a giant symbolic check to store owner Navor Herrera and his family, and hung signs saying "billionaire made here."
Asked about his million-dollar windfall, Herrera set his sights on the future.
"I have to make more bigger store, more items, good service for the people. That's my thing now," he said.
"The store is small" but the luck there is "big," Herrera joked.
Located in the city's Fashion District, the narrow minimarket is a few blocks from Skid Row's scenes of homelessness and distress where thousands of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks.
A crush of reporters descended on the narrow minimarket, creating an early morning stir.
Lucy Jamil, who works nearby, came to the market after hearing the news.
"I'm very excited -- very, very excited," Jami said. "This morning when I woke up I was praying to God, you know, God willing, it's gonna be somebody who works over here."