Los Angeles, California – A lucky individual has stepped forward to claim the extraordinary $1.765 billion Powerball jackpot from last October, making it the second-largest jackpot prize in history, as announced by the California Lottery. The winning ticket was purchased in the small mountain town of Frazier Park in Kern County, a community with a population of around 3,000 residents.
The winner, Theodorus Struyck, was identified as the representative of a group of winners who bought the winning ticket at Midway Market, a family-run business where Struyck lives only 500 yards away from. Although it remains unclear how many individuals are part of the winning group, locals describe Struyck as a 65-year-old man who adores his grandchildren and is well-liked in the community.
Midway Market, where the winning ticket was sold, received a $1 million bonus check for their role in the massive win. This win marks the second-largest jackpot in California history, second only to Edwin Castro’s $2.04 billion haul in November of 2022.
California Lottery has seen a streak of luck when it comes to big wins in Powerball history, with players from the state winning or co-winning the top four-largest jackpots in the game since 2016, all exceeding $1 billion. The October jackpot win, during the 36th draw for that Powerball sequence, contributed an additional $119.5 million towards public schools, according to the California Lottery.
The excitement surrounding the massive win not only brings hope and dreams to lottery players but also highlights the California Lottery’s mission to generate additional funding for public education in the state. With the Mega Millions jackpot currently sitting at an estimated $875 million after no winning tickets during the latest drawing, the thrill of winning big continues to captivate players across the state.