Yanira Alvarez made lottery history after matching all six winning numbers in the July 19, 2023 Powerball drawing, capturing a massive $1.08 billion jackpot. Her winning ticket, matching numbers 7, 10, 11, 13, 24, and Powerball 24, brought an end to a 39-draw streak without a top-prize winner. At the time of the draw, it stood as the third-largest Powerball jackpot in history.
Alvarez purchased her ticket at Las Palmitas Mini Market, a neighborhood store located on Wall Street in downtown Los Angeles, near the Skid Row area. After a standard background check and claim verification process, the California Lottery officially announced her as the sole jackpot winner on March 29, 2024.
When claiming her winnings, Alvarez opted for the single, up-front lump-sum cash payment, which totaled $558.1 million before federal tax withholdings. Maintaining a low profile, she respectfully declined to give media interviews, make public statements, or participate in news conferences following the announcement.