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Two Unclaimed Lottery Jackpots Spark Legal Battle and Education Windfall

One forgotten ticket just cost Ohio a winner $65.8 million—but gave schools a surprise boost. Meanwhile, a California lawsuit could rewrite lottery rules forever.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows a paper with the text "Loterie Nationale Tirage de la Première Tranche" written on...
The image shows a paper with the text "Loterie Nationale Tirage de la Première Tranche" written on it, indicating that it is a ticket for the lottery.

For the first time in five years, a major US lottery jackpot has gone unclaimed. A $130 million Powerball ticket bought in Ohio expired in July 2024 without a winner stepping forward. The oversight breaks a streak where all top prizes of at least $10 million were collected between 2021 and 2026.

Meanwhile, in California, a legal battle has erupted over another unclaimed fortune—half of a $395 million Mega Millions jackpot that expired in December 2024. The Ohio Lottery confirmed that the winning Powerball ticket was purchased on July 3, 2024, at a Walmart Supercenter in Huber Heights. It matched all five numbers plus the Powerball. Had the winner come forward, they would have taken home $65.8 million after taxes. Instead, the unclaimed funds will now go towards Ohio's education system. The state lottery will also retain $1.9 million from the prize.

In California, a different scenario unfolded. A $395 million Mega Millions jackpot from an earlier draw was split between two tickets, but one half remained unclaimed. On December 11, 2024, the winner of the other half filed a lawsuit against the California Lottery. They are now seeking the remaining $197 million, arguing they are entitled to the full amount since the second ticket was never collected.

The Ohio case marks the first time since 2019 that a US lottery prize of this size has gone unclaimed. Before this, every major jackpot exceeding $10 million was successfully awarded to a winner within the required timeframe. The Ohio Lottery's unclaimed $130 million will fund state education programmes, while the $1.9 million cut stays with the lottery. In California, the courts must now decide whether the remaining $197 million can be transferred to the plaintiff. Both cases highlight the rare but costly consequences of unclaimed lottery wins.

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