California $12M lottery winner's address revealed - it was a mistake

Lottery winners who have secured a seven-figure payout would probably want to - most of the time - keep to themselves. Lottery winners in California have been known to opt for the right to exercise their relative anonymity, but in the case of a SuperLotto Plus winner, this may no longer be an option.

While a Californian lottery winner’s name will always be part of the public record, other details, and especially where they live, would be a guarded secret. A rather embarrassing mistake, though, has changed this for one recent lottery victor. The winner of a $12-million jackpot had their home address exposed in a press statement publicizing the event by the California Lottery. The lottery apparently confused the winner’s address with that of the King Wine & Liquor 2 in Sacramento, where the purchase was made, with a swift damage-control action undertaken by the lottery: Protecting player privacy and ensuring accurate information are top priorities for the California Lottery. This has never happened for the California Lottery, and we are reviewing our protocols to ensure this doesn’t occur again. We regret the mistake and appreciate the public’s understanding as we work quickly to ensure all information shared is accurate and secure.

The lottery may still face a lawsuit over its handling of private data, and the winner would have the legal recourse to pursue this case. While the win occurred on November 29, 2025, the man behind it, one Raul Servellon de Leo, may now use some of his newfound wealth to settle scores with the lottery. To have a case, de Leo would have to demonstrate that the disclosure, while reproachable, has had any adverse consequences on his private life.