Photo courtesy of California Lottery.
A Long Beach man was identified Tuesday by California Lottery officials as one of three people to match five of the six winning numbers in late July’s Powerball jackpot—splitting between them a $2.35 million prize.
Erick Alexius, 36, took home $785,065 (before federal taxes) out of the 5/5 California prize amount of $2,355,195, according to lottery officials.
Alexius purchased his winning ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 1100 Redondo Avenue in Long Beach. The ticket matched the numbers 11, 17, 21, 23, and 32—missing only the Powerball number 5.
Officials said Alexius was running errands when he stopped at the convenience store to buy water. He also purchased Quick Pick tickets for that night’s $478 million Powerball draw, they said.
“The following Monday, Alexius was out of town visiting a friend in the hospital when he saw on his Facebook feed that a winning Powerball ticket was sold in Long Beach, at the same store where he bought his tickets,” officials stated.
However, it wasn’t until Alexius went back home the next day that he checked his tickets and found out he had won.
“I lost feeling in my hands,” Alexius said regarding his discovery.
Alexius said it took him a whole month to come forward and claim his prize because he wanted to meet with a lawyer and financial advisor to get his affairs in order, according officials.
“As far as his plans for the money, Alexius said that his only plan so far is to pay off his car,” officials stated.