Winning Powerball numbers for record-breaking jackpot
Winning Powerball numbers for record-breaking jackpotReuters

A story about a California nurse who was given a winning Powerball ticket by her Jewish philanthropist boss has turned out to be false, ABC News reported Friday, citing the Pomona nurse’s family.

The family of the 62-year-old woman said the nurse's son played a prank on his mother.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for nursing home owner Shlomo Rechnitz said the winner was a senior registered nurse at Park Avenue Health Care and Wellness Center in Pomona.

Rechnitz's spokesperson said the nurse was given a ticket by her boss, who bought 18,000 tickets for his employees and residents at 80 nursing home across California, hoping one would be the winner of the largest jackpot in history, $1.59 billion.

California Lottery officials expressed skepticism over the claim, however, given that nobody had claimed the prize to that point. The other two winning tickets were sold in Tennessee and Florida.

Rechnitz told ABC News that he found the prank "despicable" and said he wants the nurse to have some fun with the situation. He said he will buy an all-expenses paid vacation for the nurse and her family to anywhere they choose.

The winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven located at 4092 Chino Hills Parkway in Chino Hills, according to the news station. Revelers swarmed the store in celebration Wednesday evening.

Two other winning tickets were sold in Florida and Tennessee.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)