In many ways, the California Lottery had a record-breaking 2022.
The largest jackpot in state history was awarded, more than 100 players became millionaires and the state’s public education fund will receive nearly $2 billion from lottery sales.
Largest lottery jackpot ever won in Altadena
There are more than 23,000 California Lottery retail locations where Californians can buy lottery tickets. However, the state doesn’t permit online sales.
Last November, a Californian won the largest jackpot in lottery history. Following three months without a winner, the Powerball jackpot reached $2.04 billion.
The winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, CA. The location received $1 million for selling the winning ticket. But the unknown winner has up to a year to claim his or her winnings.
California uses Lottery revenue to fund public education. Thus, a whopping $156.3 million went toward educational funding just from the Powerball jackpot.
During the 2020-21 fiscal year, $1.8 billion went to public education entities in California. So, California education should receive the same or slightly more from the 2021-22 fiscal year results.
More than 100 players in California became millionaires in 2022
Aside from selling the winning $2.04 billion Powerball ticket, the California Lottery made 125 millionaires in 2022. Several serendipitous stories came from how some of the winning tickets were purchased.
For example, a woman purchased a ticket after someone in the store accidentally bumped into her while at the lottery vending machine. As a result, she pressed the wrong button and purchased a $10 million winning ticket at 200X Scratchers.
Another man purchased a bright orange Instant Prize Crossword scratcher because it matched his wife’s Leukemia Awareness bracelet. His prize was $2 million.
There were big winners throughout the year in California.
- $316.3 million jackpot won on Jan. 5 in Sacramento
- $13 million Super Lotto Plus jackpot won on Jan. 8 in Moreno Valley
- $426 million Mega Millions jackpot won on Jan. 28 in Woodland Hills
- $20 million Set for Life Millionaire Edition jackpot won on Feb. 22 in Auburn
- $10 million 200x Scratcher jackpot won on April 6 in Tarzana
- $38 million Super Lotto Plus jackpot won on April 30 in San Diego
- $27 million Super Lotto Plus jackpot won on July 13 in Oxnard
- $1 million 50X Fortune Scratchers jackpot won on Aug. 5 in San Diego
- $251 million Mega Millions jackpot won on Oct.14 in San Jose
- $2 million Instant Prize Crossword Scratcher jackpot won on Nov. 1 in San Francisco
- $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won on Nov. 7 in Altadena
- $41 million Super Lotto Plus jackpot won on Nov. 12 in Sacramento
California education benefits from lottery revenue
The lottery reported a record $8.4 billion in sales during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Consequently, public schools in the Golden State received $1.8 billion worth of funding last year.
But the California State Lottery Commission believes the 2021-22 fiscal year will be even better, estimating $8.45 billion in total sales. Therefore, California schools should receive more than the $1.8 billion they saw last year once the final numbers are calculated.
Since its inception in 1985, the California Lottery has contributed more than $39 billion to California public education. Some of the funding goes to “attracting and retaining more quality teachers, buying state-of-the-art equipment and keeping critical programs running,” according to the California Lottery’s website.
The California Controller’s Office decides how funding is distributed yearly among public education institutions. Here is the latest available breakdown:
- K-12 grades: 79.9%
- Community colleges: 14.0%
- California State University System: 3.7%
- University of California: 2.3%
- Other education entities: 0.1%
