CA (AP)—Frazier Park A liquor store in a tiny California mountain hamlet was abuzz Thursday when the winning ticket for a $1.765 billion Powerball prize was sold there.
The drawing Wednesday night snapped a long streak without a top prize winner and attracted news reporters to Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, a 2,600-person hamlet 75 miles (121 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.
“That's the most exciting news ever (to) Frazier Park,” said business co-owner Nidal Khalil. He thought the winner was a frequent client but stated they had not come forward. Most are local retirees, he added.
The winning numbers were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64, and Powerball 10. California winners' identities must be publicized. The retailer will get $1 million for selling the fortunate ticket.
Clerk Janea Herrera felt it was a joke when she was told the winning ticket was sold at the shop 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) from the nearest highway. She didn't know who purchased it but observed that most customers are local regulars.
“We're not that close to the freeway so you have to go out of your way to come here,” Herrera added.
"It's a tightknit community, everybody knows each other," she added of Frazier Park, "pretty quiet, beautiful, you can see the stars at night."
There had been 35 draws without a large winner since July 19, when a California player matched all six numbers and won $1.08 billion. The current streak followed 2021 and 2022's 41 draws.
Final ticket sales exceeded the $1.73 billion jackpot projection, giving it the world's second-largest lottery reward. The only larger win was the $2.04 billion Powerball won by a California player last November.