. >>> here's rebecca jarvis with the mystics. >> reporter: chino hills 7-eleven employee m. faroqui can expect to see an uptick in customers, an uptick in business through those hip book-worm glasses. >> i'm very excited, i'm very happy and very proud. >> reporter: folks have a tendency to flock back to "lucky stores" like this where winning tickets were sold. but this lottery winner says the secret to winning isn't in the store, it's in your mind. meet cynthia stafford. in 2007 she was a single mom raising her deceased brother's kids when she won the california megamillions lottery. you thought you'd win? >> well, i knew i would win. >> reporter: stafford says believing and visualizing yourself winning is the key. part of the "ask the universe" philosophy popularized by "the secret" and similar books a few years back. >> i'm an avid reader, i read a book called "the power of your subconscious mind." >> it's not just hocus-pocus? >> it's about your belief, and uh, what you believe in strongly will manifest, and it does. >> reporter: and stafford says her belief was specific. she says sh

thousands of neighbors from crowding this 7-eleven in chino, california, just in case the new multimillionaire showed up. >> i'm envious of the winner. i love it. >> reporter: instead, they found the store's owner, who, today, received a million of his own for selling a winning ticket. >> it's the land of opportunity. so, anybody come, you will achieve your dreams. >> reporter: each of those hot little pieces of paper is worth $528,800,000. most winners take the cash payout, which is $327,835,000 before taxes. this week's winners are especially lucky. all three tickets were sold in states that don't tax lottery winnings or have no state income tax. north of memphis, the winning ticket was sold in a small town with one stoplight and fewer than 6,000 people. dana owns the mom and pop grocery store that sold it. >> my gut tells me it's a local person, because most of our lottery customers are local people. >> reporter: in melbourne, florida, this is the chaos outside the home of a family who swears they didn't win. but word on the street is that they did. for most of the day, the

. we are tracking our other top story, world record $1.6 billion powerball jackpot. >> chino hills. chino hills. thank you is the sound of lottery fever at the 7-eleven after leadershipping it sold one of three winning tickets. the winner's identity is a mystery. a check is presented to the store owner. >> we would rather have a lot of people play a little bit rather than a new people play a lot. the other thing that we are very proud about is we have 22,000 fantastic pans, our retailers who sell our products. it is a little nope fact but retailers leak 7-eleven get a commission. >> that is the press conference in chino hill where a 7-eleven store sold the big winning ticket one of three across the nation. we help to find out the winner later on and bring you more. >> in the bay area no one hit bid. four tickets matched five numbers, minus the powerball. that is big. they were sold in cloverdale, santa rosa, vacaville and santa cruz and each is worth $638,000. matt keller is in santa cruz. we are waiting for that winner to come forward, as well? >> i talked with lottery official th

sold in the 7-eleven in chino hills, just east of los angeles. >> a sign of the frenzy caused by the massive jackpot throngs of people swarmed the 7-eleven. they were cheering and taking pictures and trying to take in the historic moment. >> that store's owner will get $1 million. inside the store as you can see dozens were trying to get close to an instant celebrity, the clerk who sold the winning ticket. >> you know i sell lots. it is crazy going the store line every day. >> your ate one who -- you're the one who probably sold it? >> i think. >> abc7 news reporter lilian kim picks up our coverage now outside one lucky store in santa cruz. >> and several people in the bay area are still getting powerball riches nonetheless, right? >> that's right. four people in and around the bay area matched five of the six numbers including one person who bought a ticket here at the chevron extra mile station on so cal avenue. he or she has yet to come forward, but the prize forgetting all five numbers exept is the powerball -- expect the powerball number is in the six or seven-figure range. it w

is saturday. officials estimate the jackpot to be back down to a mere $40 million. abc news, chino hills, california. >> her's something you may not have known. the california power ball winner will not have to pay any state or local personal income taxes on their personal winnings. that's because under state law, all lottery prizes are exempt from state and local taxes. >> the countdown is on. the oscar nominations were announced today. >> receiving 12 oscar nominations. mad max road, both are among those nominated for best picture. >> the nominees are leonardo dicaprio. >> dicaprio is among an a-list group. he took home an oscar last year. nominated for best actress, golden globe winner bree larson. he spoke just minutes after the announcement. >> it should be pointed out, it's a whitewash in the acting categories. >> white actors representing all 20 nominations. the force awakened also received five nods in technical categories. >> abc news, los angeles. >> and the bay area is well-represented in the oscar's place. >> here with which locals are celebrating nominations. >> they'r

and we go to chino hills. lauren? >> good morning, natasha and reggie. someone who shopped shear 1 in $292 million, the odds are winning the powerball jackpot. a winning ticket was sold here. >> can you believe it, america? a world record jackpot and it is coming to you right now. >> more than $1 billion and people across the united states were waiting for it. >> now, the winning powerball number, good lug -- luck. >> changing the lie of the lucky powerball player who bought one of the winning pickets here. at the chino hills, california, 7-eleven with crowds showing up after it was revealed. >> i am very happy. very excited. >> it is like we won although we didn't because our community won. >> call eight sign of powerball fever sweeping the nation. tickets ahead of the drawing sell at a pace of 1.3 million a minute during rush hour. all the winner! this is the winner. >> draw long lines, inspiring people to cross state borders from lottery free-nevada to california. crossing national borders in the case of canadians. >>en has the fever. 300 million tickets sold on wednesday almost

county, chino hills. >> this was the crowd at the 7-eleven after news break. this was the lucky retailer. it turned into a party. people packed the place to sell rate and to crate the clerk who said the record-breaking $1.5 billion ticket. >> i am a very, very happy are whoever bought the ticket. i am so thankful to my people that have supported me all year. >> i live a few blocks down the street and it is crazy, i hope i know the person who won and helpfully i am their friend. >> 4, 8, 19, 27, 34. powerball: 10. other lucky tickets were sold in florida, in a small town in tennessee which is near memphis. the three winners will split the pot and they will each take home roughly $528 million. if they do really out or a lump sum of $327 million. not too shabby, the largest powerball jackpot in history. with won is a mystery. the 7-eleven clerk said he does not know would he sold the ticket to and no other winners have come forward. >> thank you is because they are calling their lawyers. right now. which they should do. the numbers are right there. self people in the bay area much maaed fiv

billion jackpot. three winning tickets were sold three winning tickets were sold in chino hills, southern ten and >> that is a good video. the famous hard level globetrotters away at alcatraz making trip shots over bay. they posted this video, the 930th year play seven games in northern california start tonight in san jose. good job, globetrotters. >> completely surreal, don't you think? totally surreal, incredibly exciting. >> major recognition from hollywood for the two bay area filmmakers nominated for an oscar for short subject with "last day of freedom." about a map's struggle after his brother commit as crime. >> also going for oscar gold, for a visual affects company. >> fantastic day, deeply honored, amazingly honored to be part of this incredible event. >> they got five nods for "star wars" and "the force awakens" and a thousand people worked on the visual affects of "star wars" and boy does it show. ilm was nominated for "revenant," owned by disney, parent company of abc7. >> can you watch the oscars hosted by chris rock february 28 right here on abc7. >> we have another 90 minu

system bayer or someone in the office pool those who did not win packed the 7-eleven in chino hills to sell celebrate congrat laying the clerk would so the record-breaking tick contempt. >> i am very happy. happy to celebrate at the store. very proud. and excited. >> i was ride home from girl scouts event and saw the crowd and talked do my daughter and we decided we wanted to be with everyone in our community, it is almost like we won because our community won. >> two other winning tickets were sold one in melbourne beach, florida, the other in a small town called mumford, tennessee, near memphis, the largest powerball jackpot in history, they will split the $1.5 million jackpot for a payment $528 million for each of three players where really out option or $327 million for the lump sum. check your tickets because 12 tickets matched feist six numbers for a prize of more than $63,000 each. not too bad. if you have not soon the numbers that did not win here are they: 4, 8, 19, 27, 33. powerball: 10. if you use our app you are noon the first to be notified free in the app store or abc7new

winning tickets were sold in chino hills in southern california and tennessee and florida. >> warriors have a tough three game road trip in the midwest with steph curry leading against the lakers last night. the warriors won. >> we will be back in 25 minutes to tell you about the weather and traffic. >> and update stories from hawaii. the drought is affecting at pg&e we've definitely put a focus on helping our agricultural customers through the drought. when they do an energy efficiency project and save that money they feel it right in their pocket book. it's exciting to help a customer with an energy efficiency project because not only are they saving energy but they are saving water. we have a lot of projects at pg&e that can help them with that and that's extremely important while we're in a drought. it's a win for the customer and it's a win for california. together, we're building a better california. >>> good morning, america. the republican showdown in the south. >> we owe $19 trillion. our country is a mess. >> a free for all between the front-runners. donald trump targets ted

. that lucky person bought from a 7-11 store in chino hills, when that person comes forward, officials have a plan to make sure he or she is the winner. >> we look at the ticket, make sure this is the right ticket, the right person, the signatures match, we look at identity and a lot of things. people shouldn't be intimidated. >> officials say they check security camera footage and in california winners can not stay anonymous. >>> we just wrapped up the dow's worst two week start of the year. >> why local companies are not worried. >>> there has been a huge recall. have you heard of this? >> no. >>> michael finney takes action on the takada air bag recall. >>> i've been working on this 18 years to, see it coming together is really a remarkable achievement. >>> only abc7 news captured a major milestone for the new so what about this? your old technology... it's time to get into the new with ford ♪ come and get it if you really want it... ♪ new is ecoboost technology. new is a foot-activated liftgate. new is tougher, stronger and lighter. new is ford. america's best-selling brand. no

-fiving the manager and our abc's lauren lyster rushed to the store in chino hills and is there live. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, reena and kendis. someone who shopped at this southern california 7-eleven is 1 in 92 million this morning, the odds of winning the nearly $1.6 billion jackpot and california lottery officials say a winning ticket was sold here. >> can you believe it, america? a world record jackpot. it is coming to you right now. >> it was the more than billion dollar moment people across the u.s. were waiting for. >> all right, now for your winning powerball number, good luck to you. it is the number 10 tonight. >> reporter: and that moment undoubtedly changing the life of the lucky powerball player who bought one of the winning tickets here at this chino hills 7-eleven crowds showing up last night after it was revealed. [ cheers and applause ] >> happy and very excited. >> reporter: it's almost like we won even though we didn't because our community won. >> reporter: call it a sign of powerball fever sweeping the nation. tickets ahead of the drawing selling

was split among winners in chino hills, california, munford, tennessee and melbourne beach, florida. you're looking live at the 7-eleven in chino hills. >> oh, good. >> they left some time ago. >> they were going nuts last night. >> why did they empty out the store? >> this poor guy. >> no line. >> t.j. holmes has been all over powerball. he starts us off with a look at what $1.5 billion looks like. >> this could have all been yours. this is what $1.6 billion in cash looks like. give or take a few dollars. last night not too long after the drawing we found out there was a winning ticket in california. that person for about two hours thought all of this was theirs and theirs alone but then they found out later that yes there was a winning ticket in florida and in tennessee. they'll have to share this. still, a third ain't bad. they're all going to get about $500 million a piece before taxes. still, a pretty good night and exciting night. history-making night. guys, finally we got a winner. >> one of those winning tickets. california, the huge celebration at the 7-11 where it was sold

gets a payout of $25,000 for selling it. meanwhile, in chino hills, california, 7-eleven owner balbir atwal received a million dollar check for selling the winning ticket. they have a group text going. lottery officials says no winner just yet. also in tennessee a couple coming forward but they haven't turned that into officials yet either. robin. >> oh, okay, kayna. as you know there are a lot of fake, doctored winning powerball tickets that are going around like this guy. travis chaney posting on facebook nice knowing everyone. i'm buying an island and you can see that it's photoshopped because the numbers are not in numeric order going up so that was a clue -- >> pretty big clue. >> and we will have much more on the powerball tonight. it's a special "20/20" here on abc. >> okay, robin, we turn to that big storm targeting the east, a nor'easter taking aim from boston to washington and a lot of cold air behind it. >> this hurricane, alex, we'll try to get it all in right here. here's good news and bad news. for the southeast that low, big stormy rainy day all for florida, for

sold at a 7-eleven in chino hills, about 45 minutes from here without traffic. with traffic it's a nine-hour drive. the whole town of chino hills is excited. they're saying this could be the thing that puts chino hills on the map. you know what? let's take a look, let's find out. nope, nope. still can't find it. i think the worst thing that the lottery does to the winner is they publicly reveal who they are. in most of the states they do not allow the lottery winner to be anonymous, which means one night you go to bed a normal person, the next morning you wake up, you're edward snowden, everyone is chasing you. the $1.568 billion jackpot, which is a record, will be split three ways. one winner gets the jackpot on monday and wednesday, another gets it tuesday and thursday, winner number three has the jackpot on weekends. i think friday the money goes to oprah or something. you break it down, each of the three winners will receive $529 million. and 250 new relatives, which is exciting. i kind of wish only one person had won the whole thing so we could have had somebody rich enough to

. california announced first. the winning ticket, sold at this 7-eleven. chino hills, outside of los angeles. tonight, crowds descended on the store, sharing the excitement, even if they can't share the prize money. >> this must be thrilling. >> it is very thrilling. >> reporter: my colleague kana whitworth was there. >> people rushed to the 7-eleven, there are hundreds of people, you can barely move inside the 7-eleven. keep in mind this store gets $1 million for selling the winning ticket and whoever takes home that money gets a big chunk of it because there are no taxes on lottery winnings here in the state of california. >> reporter: the jaw-dropping $1.5 billion jackpot, the largest the u.s. has ever seen, now will be split three ways -- three very lucky and very rich winners. making this a $2 ticket to the 1% club. in theory, at least. >> can we get in there? >> sure, you can. you can have an umbrella in case. >> reporter: we indulged our inner billionaires, shopping for cars -- >> i could get used to this. >> reporter: and condos. >> this is what you need. >> reporter: plenty

winning jackpot ticket was hold in chino hills, california? they were cheering for the all-star clerk. it felt like something out of a movie. >> i'm envious of the winner. i love it. >> reporter: lotto officials gave the owner a $1 million check just for selling the winning ticket. in no time word spread about a california winner. this los angeles nursing home. >> somebody won lotto. >> reporter: cheering for one of their nurses, a mother of seven. >> honestly it couldn't have happened to a nicer person. >> reporter: the party short-lived. the nurse who thought she won said it was an embarrassing prank from her son. her daughter tells the "l.a. times," this is one big misunderstanding. her boss, who bought 18,000 tickets for staff, including hers, still believes this nurse is a winner. >> she had two hours left to her shift and she stayed the two hours. i was extremely impressed. >> reporter: tonight there remains no confirmation on the winner out west but the nurse in the l.a. suburbs has reportedly shared with her employer that she's going on leave effective immediately until things coo

golden state and that that winning ticket was sold in this 7-eleven. chino hills. people rushed to the 7-eleven. there are hundreds of people. you can barely even move inside the 7-eleven itself. keep in mind this store gets a million dollars for selling the winning ticket and whoever takes home that money gets a big chunk of it because there are no taxes on lottery winning here in the state of california. everybody, loud and proud. >> yeah! >> reporter: someone will be claiming or sharing that jaw-dropping $1.5 billion jackpot. the largest the u.s. has ever seen. making this a $2 ticket to the 1% club. in theory at least. we indulged our inner billionaires shopping for cars. >> get used to this. >> reporter: and condos. >> see this. this is what you need. >> reporter: plenty of others were dreaming, too. all across america -- >> i feel 100% confident. >> reporter: powerball pandemonium. >> been like insane. >> reporter: aspiring billionaires lining up patiently dreaming of instant wealth. >> the winner. >> we're getting the winner. >> this is the winner. >> reporter: in reality, your

didn't stop thousands of neighbors from crowding this 7-eleven in chino, california, just in case the new multimillionaire showed up. >> i'm envious of the winner. i love it. >> reporter: instead, they found the store's owner who received a million of his own for selling a winning ticket. >> it's the land of opportunity. so, anybody come, you will achieve your dreams. >> reporter: each of those hot little pieces of paper is worth $528,800,000. most winners take the cash payout, which is now $327,835,000 before taxes. this week's winners are especially lucky. all three tickets were sold in states that don't tax lottery winnings or have no state income tax. north of memphis, the winning ticket was sold in a small town with one stoplight and fewer than 6,000 people. dana owns the mom and pop grocery store that sold it. >> my gut tells me it's a local person, because most of our lottery customers are local people. >> reporter: in melbourne, florida, this is the chaos outside the home of a family who swears they didn't win. but word on the street is that they did. for most of the day,