In the recent Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, a single ticket sold at a convenience store in Los Angeles holds the winning numbers for the staggering $1.08 billion jackpot. However, the owner or owners of the ticket have yet to step forward and claim the incredible prize, which stands as one of the largest in the history of the game.
The winning numbers that secured this life-changing fortune were 7, 13, 10, 24, 11, with the Powerball number being 24.
The lucky ticket holder now faces a monumental decision, choosing between an annuitized prize paid out in 29 installments, totaling $1.08 billion, or a lump-sum payment amounting to $558.1 million before taxes, as per Powerball.
Ranked as the sixth-largest lottery jackpot in the United States and the third-largest Powerball jackpot to date, this impressive win follows closely behind the record-breaking $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot claimed last year in California and the $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot won in 2016, according to lottery records.
The winning ticket was purchased at Las Palmitas Mini Market, located in downtown Los Angeles, making it a moment of celebration for both the store and the community. The convenience store will receive a substantial bonus of nearly $1 million for selling the winning ticket.
Store owner Angélica Menjívar, along with her mother who owns the store, expressed happiness about the bonus but hasn’t finalized any plans on how to utilize it just yet.
Nabor Herrera, an employee at the store, was the first to discover that the mart had sold the winning ticket when he arrived at work on Thursday morning, his car instantly surrounded by reporters eager for details.
Herrera mentioned that three of his customers bought a significant number of tickets, and he hopes the fortunate winner is one of his regular patrons. He himself was eager to check two tickets he had purchased, expressing his joy and gratitude that someone won, as they will also receive a small share of the winnings.
While a single ticket won the massive jackpot, Powerball encourages players to check their tickets for the chance to win any of the seven other prize tiers ranging from $4 to $2 million, depending on each state’s lottery rules.
California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker highlighted that this particular game has raised nearly $80 million for public schools, showcasing the positive impact of lottery proceeds on education.
Apart from the jackpot winner, 36 tickets sold in 16 states matched all five white balls, securing $1 million prizes in most states. California had the most winners, with seven tickets earning $448,750 each. It’s worth noting that non-jackpot prizes in California vary based on the number of winners and ticket sales, differing from the fixed prizes mentioned on Powerball’s site.
With odds of winning the jackpot being 1 in 292.2 million, the recent Powerball winner truly defied the odds and left many hopeful players looking forward to their next chance at fortune in the upcoming Mega Millions drawing. This Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at an annuitized value of $720 million, with a cash value of $369.6 million, enticing millions to dream big and dare to win big.
