Powerball Winner of $2.04 Billion Jackpot in California Finally Identified

The Powerball winner in California who won the record-setting $2.04 billion jackpot last November was finally identified.

In a press conference at California Lottery headquarters in Sacramento on Tuesday, lottery officials revealed that the winner of the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history and the largest ever for Powerball was Edwin Castro.

However, aside from his name, no additional information was released. According to KTLA 5, Castro did not attend the press conference, but lotto officials said he opted to receive the lump sum payment option of $997.6 million.

In a statement that lottery officials read on his behalf, Castro said he was "shocked" and "ecstatic" over his win on the Powerball lottery. However, he noted that the California public school system is the real winner.

The Powerball jackpot winner noted that the mission of the California Lottery, which is to give supplemental funding for the state's public education, "makes this a huge win for the state."

He added that as someone like him who also received the rewards of being educated in the California public education system, "it's gratifying to hear that, as a result of my win, the California school system greatly benefits as well."

California Public Schools Reaped the Benefits of the Powerball Jackpot in November

Aside from announcing the name's winner, the California lottery officials also talked about the record-breaking amount raised for California public education as a result of this win.

Lottery officials noted that the state's public schools will reap the benefits, receiving the record-breaking $156 million in proceeds from the November ticket sales. As a result, the officials also said the California Lottery generated $2 billion in just one fiscal year.

California Lotto spokeswoman Carolyn Becker said, "clearly Edwin Castro shares in our love" for the state's schools on this Valentine's Day, "couldn't be more fitting."

Castro reportedly bought the winning ticket at a gas station in Altadena, an unincorporated area east of Los Angeles. Joe Chahayed, the store owner, has already received the maximum bonus of $1 million for selling the Powerball winning ticket.

Chahayed told KTLA 5 on Tuesday that he will spend some of the money on his grandson's college fund. He believed that Castro, who matched all six numbers in the November 7 Powerball drawing, might be a local resident.

Only four jackpots have ever topped $1 billion. However, none came as close to this prize, which started at $20 million last August 6. The Powerball jackpot had risen to this massive amount after more than three months without a winner, The New York Times reported.

California Law Does Not Allow Powerball Winners to Remain Anonymous

Public disclosure laws differ from state to state. But in California, a lottery winner could not remain anonymous. The winner's name is considered a matter of public record under California law.

According to the California Lottery Winner's Handbook, the state lottery said a winner's full name and the name and location of the retailer that sold the ticket are all subject to disclosure.

It also said the amount of the winnings, which includes the gross and net installment payments, must also be disclosed. Another reason why California law declares the winner's name to the public is for the public to know that these lotteries, including the Powerball, are honestly run.

The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries further noted that lawmakers also wanted the public to know that the prize was paid out to a real person and was not getting scammed.

Financial advisers often advise winners not to tell anybody or be careful about who they tell, especially if they win the jackpot. However, lottery winners cannot remain anonymous in most participating states.

States that grant anonymity include Arizona, Florida, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and Wyoming.

Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at approximately 10:59 p.m. ET. Powerball is being played in 45 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Name of California's $2.04 Billion Powerball Jackpot Winner to Be Revealed - From FOX 11 Los Angeles