California Man Still Waiting For $44 Million Powerball Payout Amid Delays

An Orange County, California, man who submitted a winning ticket for the $44 million Powerball jackpot says he has yet to receive his prize. He doesn’t feel he’s being impatient — he’s been waiting since his numbers hit the jackpot in the middle of August.

ABC7 Los Angeles reports that “Jerry,” an avid lottery player, regularly buys tickets for a variety of California lottery games, including Fantasy 5, SuperLotto, Mega Millions, and Powerball. He has come to enjoy the anticipation of each drawing, but this recent experience has left him in limbo.

Ahead of the Powerball drawing on Aug. 19, Jerry purchased a ticket at a local convenience store, using a combination of favorite numbers. To his surprise, all six numbers, including his Powerball choice of 10, matched the winning draw.

Recalling the moment, Jerry said that while he was thrilled, the excitement was subdued by the sheer improbability of his win. He explained, “It was exciting in a really subtle way because you don’t anticipate ever hitting all six. Six numbers on the Powerball is … the odds are you’ll die before … You’ll walk out and get hit by lightning before you win that one.”

Despite the odds, Jerry now faces an unexpectedly long wait for his prize. Over nine weeks have passed, and he has yet to see any payment. Frustrated by the process, he shared that the delay has been challenging.

According to Jerry, the California State Lottery has provided no concrete timeline for when he can expect to receive the funds. “The process is really horrible for a winner of a big … any big lotto winnings,” he said. “They won’t tell you by this date, you’ll get the funds. They won’t tell you that. They leave it open-ended so you’re sitting, waiting daily.”

Patience is a virtue

According to ABC7, Carolyn Becker, a spokesperson for the California State Lottery, explained that it can take longer than winners might anticipate to process claims, especially for large jackpots. Although the state aims to complete payout processes within six to eight weeks, each claim goes through a rigorous verification process, which can prolong the timeline.

Becker added that while the fastest processing time could be as short as four weeks, such cases are rare. She acknowledged that for winners, the wait can feel uncertain, and the lottery tries to set realistic expectations for claimants.

Part of the verification includes an investigation conducted by the lottery’s law enforcement team. In addition to confirming the legitimacy of the winning ticket, the lottery checks for any potential outstanding obligations the claimant may owe to the state, such as taxes or child support. This extended investigation is designed to ensure the integrity of the lottery’s payout process, particularly for large sums, and prevent any potential fraud.

Becker emphasized the volume of claims processed by the lottery, which amounts to more than 10,000 claims each month. As a result, the lottery has to manage high claim volumes while ensuring due diligence on every case. The state’s goal, Becker said, is to keep its processes transparent while managing winners’ expectations.

For Jerry, however, the lack of a clear timeline has been trying. He says the uncertainty of not knowing when his payout will arrive has dampened the joy of his big win. With each day passing without an answer, he checks his phone and mailbox, hoping for an update. The open-ended nature of the process has made it difficult for him to make any plans or feel fully assured of his prize.

California’s not alone

The delay in processing Jerry’s claim is not unique. The aim, according to California Lottery officials, is to protect both the lottery’s interests and those of genuine winners.

Similar delays exist in other states for the same reasons. Lottery threads on Reddit show responses from people in Iowa and Pennsylvania having to bide their time waiting for payouts. One Pennsylvania player said the standard wait is “eight to 12 weeks,” and that’s just to claim a regular prize — not a jackpot.

By conducting a thorough vetting process, the lottery administrators seek to maintain the credibility and fairness of their operations, even if that means winners may face delays in receiving their funds.