The $30 Million Secret: Where Is Andrea Willer 10+ Years After Her California SuperLotto Plus Win?

Andrea Willer became an instant multi-millionaire with the purchase of a single $1 SuperLotto Plus ticket, a life-changing event that captured the attention of California a little over a decade ago. Her story is a fascinating case study in lottery success, not just for the massive $30 million jackpot she claimed, but for the remarkable way she managed to disappear from the public eye almost immediately after collecting her winnings.

As of today, December 10, 2025, Andrea Willer represents the rare breed of lottery winners who successfully navigate the sudden influx of wealth and fame by choosing complete and total privacy. Her initial decision to take the cash option and the swift, quiet way she claimed the prize set the stage for a decade of relative anonymity, a feat many big-jackpot winners fail to achieve.

Andrea Willer: Biography and SuperLotto Plus Win Details

The details surrounding Andrea Willer's personal life are scarce, a testament to her commitment to privacy following her massive win. The California Lottery confirmed her as the sole winner of the SuperLotto Plus jackpot, but few other personal facts were ever disclosed to the public.

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• Name: Andrea Willer
• Prize Won: California SuperLotto Plus Jackpot
• Estimated Jackpot Value: $30 Million (Annuity Option)
• Cash Option Payout: More than $14 Million (Before Federal Taxes)
• Winning Draw Date: March 5 (Year confirmed to be 2014)
• Claim Announcement Date: June 26, 2014
• Winning Ticket Location: My Goods Market (76 Gas Station) in Cotati, Sonoma County, California
• Residence: Undisclosed (Lottery officials did not release her city of residence)
• Key Financial Decision: Elected to take the lump-sum cash option.

The lucky ticket was purchased at My Goods Market, a 76 gas station located at 8510 Gravenstein Highway in Cotati, a small city in Sonoma County. The store itself received a retailer bonus of $150,000 for selling the winning ticket, which matched all five winning numbers and the Mega Number.

The Critical Financial Decision: Cash Option vs. Annuity

One of the most crucial and immediate decisions any major lottery winner faces is choosing between the annuity option and the cash option. Andrea Willer, like many successful winners, opted for the immediate lump-sum cash payment.

The estimated $30 million jackpot was the advertised annuity value, paid out over 30 years. By choosing the cash option, Willer received a one-time payment of "more than $14 million," a figure that was finalized after the California Lottery applied the required federal tax withholdings.

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This decision is often debated by financial experts. While the annuity provides a guaranteed income stream and a hedge against poor investment choices, the lump-sum cash option, despite being a lower amount, offers immediate control and the potential for greater growth through strategic investment. For a winner focused on privacy and immediate financial restructuring, the cash option is frequently the preferred route.

Andrea Willer's payout was subject to significant federal taxes, a standard procedure for all US lottery prizes. The state of California, however, is one of the few that does not tax lottery winnings, meaning she avoided a state tax burden on her multi-million dollar prize, maximizing her net takeaway from the $14 million cash option.

The Ultimate Success Story: A Decade of Privacy

The most compelling part of Andrea Willer's story is not the winning amount, but her post-win strategy. Since the California Lottery announced her as the winner in June 2014, there has been virtually no subsequent public information or news reports about her. This decade-long silence is a rare achievement in the world of lottery winners, many of whom face public scrutiny, financial mismanagement, or the "curse" of the lottery.

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Her success in maintaining anonymity points to a well-executed plan that likely involved several key steps, which serve as a blueprint for future jackpot winners:

1. Immediate Legal and Financial Counsel

Willer's quick claim—only a few months after the March drawing—and the professional announcement suggest she immediately hired a team of experts. A crucial first step for any winner is to engage an attorney, a certified public accountant (CPA), and a financial advisor. This team manages the claim process, establishes trusts or LLCs to protect the money, and shields the winner from the immediate onslaught of requests and media attention.

2. Strategic Use of California's Disclosure Laws

While California law requires the name of the winner to be made public, it does not mandate the release of the winner's address, phone number, or other personal details. By claiming the prize and allowing only her name and the location of the ticket sale (Cotati) to be released, Andrea Willer used the state’s disclosure laws to her advantage, preventing the public from tracking her down.

3. The Power of Silence and Relocation

The lack of any public statements or interviews from Willer post-announcement is a clear indication of her desire to avoid the spotlight. Many winners who struggle with newfound fame do so because they give interviews or make public appearances. By simply disappearing, she allowed the news cycle to move on. It is highly probable that she relocated from her original residence to a new, undisclosed location to fully escape the attention of the media and long-lost relatives.

Lessons Learned from the Andrea Willer Case

Andrea Willer's $30 million SuperLotto Plus win provides invaluable lessons for anyone dreaming of hitting a massive jackpot. Her story is a perfect example of how to handle sudden wealth responsibly and privately.

• Prioritize Privacy: Her successful anonymity demonstrates that immediate silence and a clear boundary with the media are the best defenses against the "lottery curse."
• Choose the Right Team: The decision to hire a financial and legal team before claiming the prize is paramount for asset protection and tax management.
• Control the Narrative: By limiting the released information to the bare minimum required by the California Lottery, Willer controlled the public narrative surrounding her win.
• Understand the Financial Mechanics: Her choice of the cash option allowed for immediate control over the more than $14 million, enabling her to establish a long-term financial plan without waiting for annual annuity payments.

In a world where lottery winners often become cautionary tales, Andrea Willer's decade of silence is a quiet, yet powerful, success story. She won the lottery, claimed her prize, and, most importantly, won back her privacy, proving that the greatest luxury money can buy is a quiet life away from the spotlight.