Southern California’s newest billionaire remains a mystery after winning Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot.
We know the $1.7 billion-winning ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor located at 6032 Frazier Mountain Park Road in Kern County.
Owner Andy Khalil, who received $1 million for selling the winning ticket, said he found out about it on social media.
“They were mentioning the store name and they were congratulating me,” Khalil said. He has worked at the store for 29 years and said this is the first time they have sold such a big winning ticket.
Khalil told KTLA he plans on using his share of the winnings for his children’s college funds.
His nephew, Chris, who also works at the store, said he found out about the store selling the winning ticket from a friend. He didn’t believe it until he verified the address.
Chris added that the store’s customers are mostly local and are loyal, and he hopes one of them won the jackpot.
Donning yellow lotto tees reading “Billionaire Made Here,” Khalil and other family members were presented with the large $1 million check during a news conference outside their store Thursday afternoon.
The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10.
Carolyn Becker, a California Lottery spokesperson, said officials won’t find out who the winner is until they come forward to claim the jackpot, which they have a year to do.
A ticket matching five of the numbers, worth nearly $1 million, was sold at Atlantic Wine & Spirit at 504 S. Atlantic Blvd. in Monterey Park.
The Frazier Park ticket marks the third billion-dollar winner sold in Southern California in less than a year.
Last November, a $2.04 billion ticket was claimed in Altadena, and a $1.04 billion ticket was sold in downtown Los Angeles in July.