Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.5 billion but two Californians walk away millionaires
Dylan Renea, a 33-year-old Californian, sits on a bench outside the PCH Plaza Mall in Huntington Park as he waits for the start of his family’s annual Christmas shopping trip to Las Vegas. He said he doesn’t mind paying $1 for the chance to win $1 million.
A few months ago, two Cali residents — Dylan Renea and David Pareja, both 33 — won $1.5 billion in the Powerball lottery. Just before dawn Tuesday, a winner struck again, the second winner in California who took home a jackpot estimated at $1.5 billion.
Renea, who lives in Huntington Park, said he was glad he finally made his fortune last week. It’s been years of trying to have his own shot at the jackpot and now he has it.
“I just really like to be a winner,” he said.
His mother, Cheryl, called it a great afternoon.
“It was just a great time.”
More lottery winners across the U.S. will take home an estimated $8.2 billion in prizes
Dylan Renea, a 33-year-old Californian, sits on a bench outside the PCH Plaza Mall in Huntington Park as he waits for the start of his family’s annual Christmas shopping trip to Las Vegas. He said he doesn’t mind paying $1 for the chance to win $1 million.
On Tuesday morning, Pareja’s luck continued. He and Renea were among the lucky winners who had already claimed their prize of $961 million. The two were selected at random to win the next-largest prize in Las Vegas history: $1.5 billion. All five of the lucky winners are now millionaires.
Pareja, with roots in the Pico-Union area, said he’s so relieved he can finally spend his millions with his family.
“It could’ve all been a waste,” he said. “It could’ve been wasted a lot of money.”
As he waited in line outside the Hacienda Casino in Las Vegas, Pareja said he
