Published on: March 23, 2026, 01:29h.
Updated on: March 23, 2026, 01:29h.
- Could Jeffrey Epstein’s vast fortune include lottery winnings?
- There are claims he won an $85 million Powerball in July 2008
- However, these claims are likely unfounded, though they persist
A viral post on social media suggests that Jeffrey Epstein purportedly won an $85 million Powerball jackpot back in 2008. The account on platform X, Grok, hinted that this rumor may have some truth to it.
On a recent Sunday, a popular account on X with nearly 400,000 followers reignited an old rumor that Epstein won the Powerball on July 2, 2008. The winning numbers from that draw were 4, 33, 46, 48, 52, with the red Powerball being 17.
This jackpot was valued at $85 million, with a cash option of $41.3 million. The winning ticket was purchased in Oklahoma.
The account that brought this rumor back into the spotlight prompted Grok to investigate the claims further.
Confirmed: Indeed, the Zorro Trust claimed the $85M Powerball jackpot (net payout of approximately $29.3 million post-tax) from the July 2, 2008 draw, with the ticket sold in Altus, Oklahoma. This matches the name associated with Epstein’s trust linked to his Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Recent DOJ files on Epstein mention that the ‘Zorro Trust (owner: Epstein)’ was the winning entity. Lottery officials verified that all standard procedures were followed, anonymity is legal, and no fraud was detected,” responded the AI assistant on the social media platform.
The post regarding the alleged Powerball win garnered 5.2 million views within just 24 hours.
Grok’s Lottery Dilemma
Officials from Powerball confirmed that the jackpot from July 2008 was paid to the Zorro Trust, a legal entity associated with Epstein’s expansive property in New Mexico. According to Oklahoma Lottery rules, high-stakes winners can claim anonymity by setting up trusts.
Brice Gordon, Epstein’s long-time ranch manager, reportedly acted as the trustee of the Zorro Trust and purportedly signed for the Powerball prize, though this has not been verified. Casino.org examined entities and registered agents on the Oklahoma Secretary of State website but found no organization represented by Gordon, and no Zorro Trust could be located.
A follow-up inquiry with Grok about how many lottery wins Epstein had resulted in conflicting responses.
None. There is no evidence to suggest that Jeffrey Epstein ever won a lottery. The $85M jackpot from the Oklahoma Powerball (July 2 draw) was claimed by a Zorro Trust for anonymity, yet local sources from The Oklahoman identified the actual winner as a grocery store employee in Altus (located near the ticket vendor) who established her own trust. Epstein maintained a separate Zorro entity for his New Mexico ranch; any resemblance in names is purely coincidental. Recent references to him are unsubstantiated claims, not verified wins.
It seems unlikely that Epstein would have purchased lottery tickets in Oklahoma, considering his Zorro Ranch is over 400 miles from Altus. Additionally, New Mexico has been participating in the Powerball since 1996.
Insights from Epstein Files
The story regarding Epstein’s supposed lottery win gained traction after the release of Epstein Files, which included an email from a journalist investigating human trafficking. This message, sent to undisclosed recipients, referenced Epstein’s alleged Powerball winnings.
“Here are some intriguing points that should be forwarded to the agent leading the Epstein investigation. I will also include Director Mueller in the correspondence,” she noted.
“1. Zorro Trust (associated with Epstein) claimed an $80 million lottery ticket in New Mexico,” the journalist incorrectly asserted. “2. Zorro Ranch, owned by Epstein, is situated near the US-Mexico border, the main route for most trafficked children before they are dispersed eastward.”
Stanley, where the ranch is located, is over 200 miles north of the US-Mexico border.