Single winning Powerball ticket sold in California

MENIFEE, Calif.—A sole winning Powerball ticket worth $447.8 million and matching all six numbers was sold in Southern California and will claim the 10th largest lottery prize in U.S. history, lottery officials said Sunday.

The winning ticket was sold at Marietta Liquor & Deli, the California Lottery said in a statement. Lottery officials said the earliest the ticket could be redeemed is 8 a.m. Monday. The winner has one year to claim the prize.

The store just off a highway caters to retirees who live in Sun City—part of the small city of Menifee—that was originally developed as a retirement community and to motorists passing through the area about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Los Angeles.

Liquor store owner Matthew Alberre said he does not know which of his customers won the jackpot or what his family will do with the $1 million “retailer bonus” that lottery officials said is set aside for the retailer selling the winning ticket.

“We’re so blessed for this to happen,” said Alberre, who owns the store with his father.

The year began terribly for the family because Alberre’s father was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

“Starting out the year it seemed like it was going to be the worst year in the world and six months later our store hit the Powerball. We’re very, very grateful for this to happen to our store,” Alberre said.

Powerball spokesman Randy Miller said the estimated jackpot prize is based on a winner choosing an annuity, which pays off over 29 years. The cash prize would be $279.1 million. Both prize amounts would be before taxes are deducted.