Winner of $1.75 BILLION California lottery FINALLY comes forward five months after striking gold at local convenience store

The $1.75 billion jackpot lottery winner has finally emerged five months after securing the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history at a local convenience store in Southern California.

Theodorus Struyck has been identified as the representative of a group of winners who purchased the ticket at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, about an hour's drive from Los Angeles, last October.

Accounts bearing Struyck's name have appeared on Facebook and Instagram, but it's unclear if the accounts actually belong to him as the mysterious victor hasn't shared any content on the platforms. 

Although it's unclear how many people were part of the group that purchased the life-changing ticket in October, the family-owned store managed to net at least $1 million just for selling the ticket.  

 'Announcing big wins like this gives all of our players the chance to hope and dream that they could be next,' said California Lottery Director Harjinder K. Shergill Chima in a press release.

The $1.75 billion jackpot lottery winner has finally emerged five months after securing the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history at a local convenience store (pictured) in Southern California

Theodorus Struyck has been identified as the representative of a group of winners who purchased the ticket at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, about an hour's drive from Los Angeles , last October. Pictured: store co-owner Nidal Khalil, center, smiles with son Jonathan Khalil, left, and nephew Chris Khalil, right

Accounts bearing Struyck's name have appeared on Facebook and Instagram, but it's unclear if the accounts actually belong to him as the mysterious victor hasn't shared any content on the platforms. 

The winning numbers were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball was 10. 

Duke, the staffer believed to have sold the winning ticket, told CBS Los Angeles back in October: 'The phone has been ringing off the hook... somebody owes me a new truck.' 

As the employee speculated at the time, Struyck is indeed a long-time resident of Frazier Park, a small town where the median household income sits at $42,200 as of 2020.  

'I'm pretty sure it's a local,' Duke said. 'There's people that come in every day to get their tickets. We know them by name, so I'm sure somebody's going to be screaming up and down.' 

The huge payout is the second largest lottery prize in US history, after Edwin Castro scooped a $2.04 billion Powerball win in California last November.

Castro has gone on to make a number of lavish real estate purchases, fueling speculation over who the nation's latest billionaire lottery winner may be.

According to California Lottery, the drawing allows the organization to raise an additional $119.5million for public schools in the state. 

 'It gives us an opportunity to shine the spotlight on our terrific mission, which is to generate additional, supplemental funding for public education in California,' Director Chima said. 

'So, it's students of all ages across the state, who win everyday thanks to our players, our retail partners who sell these fun games, and our hard-working staff here at the Lottery. This is an exciting day for all of us!' he said. 

Duke, the staffer believed to have sold the winning ticket, told CBS Los Angeles back in October: 'The phone has been ringing off the hook... somebody owes me a new truck'  

Jonathan Khalil, left, and Chris Khalil, sons of the store co-owners, hold up a ceremonial check after the $1.765 billion winning Powerball ticket was sold

May and Jacklin Khalil, the owners of the store, celebrated and said they were 'so happy' after learning that they were set to receive $1 million just for selling the winning numbers 

The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10

Midway Market & Liquor is roughly 100 miles north of downtown Los Angeles and is nestled in the Los Padres National Forest. 

Duke said that huge excitement built up among locals after news spread, and the 'phone has been ringing off the hook, people saying congratulations.' 

'A lot of customers come in every day to get their tickets religiously, and a lot of them said 'If I win, I'm gonna get you a new truck... so where's my truck?' he joked. 

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Most lottery games allow 180 days for the winner to claim their prize. The exceptions are Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots, which have a one-year deadline. 

The next Powerball draw will happen Saturday and carries a jackpot currently estimated at $600million 

Winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.