It’s going to be a couple of weeks until the identity of Portland’s $1.326 billion Powerball winner is announced.
But someone came forward Monday and authorities are now verifying their identity.
Melanie Mesaros with the Oregon Lottery said the jackpot size is unprecedented and verification takes time.
“The steps include verifying the ticket information. And following a process for Oregon to be able to collect the money from the multi-state lottery game that we participate in,” Mesaros said.
State law dictates that lottery players in Oregon cannot remain anonymous, but there are exceptions — for example, if the winner lives in a domestic violence situation. Nothing is known about the winner at this point.
The ticket was bought Saturday at a Plaid Pantry in Northeast Portland.
Johnathan Polonsky, the CEO of the Portland-based convenience store chain Plaid Pantry, said he is thrilled one of their customers won, seen here in Northeast Portland on April 9, 2024.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Johnathan Polonsky, the CEO of the Portland-based convenience store chain, said he is thrilled one of their customers won. He also bought a ticket.
“I first heard that it was Oregon and I was like, ‘Oh, odds went up.’ And then I heard it was Portland, Oregon, and then odds went way up. We have a lot of stores here in Portland. And then I heard it was in the Cully Neighborhood!” said Polonsky.
He said scores of people have contacted him with congratulations.
The store, on 60th and Northeast Columbia Boulevard, gets $100,000 from the Oregon Lottery for selling the winning ticket. Polonsky said the money will be shared as part of the store’s bonus plan.
“This store is one of our newest and most loved stores,” Polonsky said.
Saturday’s win was the eighth-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
“I want to congratulate the winner on this life changing moment. No one in Oregon has ever won a prize on this scale,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells.
The largest Powerball prize previously won in Oregon was $340 million in 2005. The last time a Powerball jackpot was won in the state was in 2018 when a Salem man won $150.4 million.
Approximately $7.6 million from the game will be returned to the state to support economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services and watershed enhancements.
Officials say that since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets in 1985, it has generated nearly $15.5 billion for the state.
Oregon Lottery spokesperson, Melanie Mesaros, stands outside the Plaid Pantry store in NE Portland where the $1.326 billion Powerball ticket was purchased Saturday. April 9, 2024
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB