Woman Claims To Be Winner of $1.08 Billion Jackpot In Lottery Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES, CA — A woman sued the California Lottery this week, alleging she is entitled to one of the largest Powerball jackpots in history.

Stacy Tru claims she is the winner of the $1.08 billion jackpot from the July 19, 2023 Powerball drawing. The ticket was sold near Skid Row in Los Angeles, and it was months before the winner came forward and was confirmed by the California Lottery. That woman was not Tru.

Tru's suit is alleging breach of contract in her Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit.

"At all times, plaintiff was the only owner of the ticket," the suit alleges.

A lottery representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Tru is seeking the $1.08 billion along with interest retroactive to Oct. 15, 2023, the date which the plaintiff contends she made a claim for the money and was denied.

In April of 2023, the California Lottery announced another woman was the true jackpot winner.

According to the California Lottery, Yanira Alvarez hit the $1.08 million Powerball jackpot when she matched all six winning numbers with her ticket purchases at Las Palmitas Mini Market. The life-changing amount was the eighth-largest jackpot in history.

Tru created an instant uproar, the day after the jackpot drawing when she showed up at the Mini Market and claimed to be the winner in front of news crews. She shouted in shock and joy and hugged the store clerk, but she never showed the winning ticket to anyone.

A website was established devoted to celebrating Tru as a billionaire philanthropist. It offers a chance to hire her as a motivational speaker and it sells gear including replicas of the hat she wore when she showed up at the minimart claiming to have won the lottery and books about her story.

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City News Service contributed to this report.