SACRAMENTO – Loyal player Jerry Heath, who recently won a $44.3 million Powerball® jackpot, says one of the reasons he plays so often is to help support the mission of the California Lottery to raise extra money for public education.
“I’m a very fortunate human being,” Heath told the California Lottery after recently receiving his gigantic prize. Heath went on to describe his low-income upbringing, adding, “I can’t forget where I came from now that I’m a multimillionaire. I don’t really travel; playing the lottery is my only luxury.”
Heath says he is sharing his winnings with his daughter and grandchildren and that a former boss told him this big win “couldn’t have happened to a better person.” Heath said he totally supports public education, noting that he earned a business degree at Long Beach State College, now known as CSU Long Beach. Heath told the California Lottery he went on to become a decorated detective for the Long Beach Police Department and served six years in the United States Army.
Heath bought his jackpot-winning Powerball game for a drawing back in August at the Ralphs on Golden Lantern in Dana Point. Heath shared that he plays the lottery every day, and now that he’s conquered Powerball, he has his sights set on SuperLotto Plus®, which is only offered in California.
The California Lottery does not announce the names of winners until after they’ve come forward, been vetted by Lottery law enforcement, declared the rightful winner, and received their official prize payment.