Single ticket bought in Illinois wins $1 billion Powerball jackpot

To the tens of thousands and likely more dreaming about a $1 billion Powerball win, the anticipation is over: Someone who bought a ticket in Illinois won it all. A single ticket sold in the state matched all six numbers and the Powerball to win Wednesday’s $1.04 billion jackpot, which is the eighth largest in the history of the lottery game, organizers said. The winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69, with a Powerball of 9. If it is taken all at once as a lump-sum payment, the jackpot is $450.5 million before taxes. Otherwise, it would be an annuity paid out over 29 years. A jackpot of $1 billion was once extraordinary, but the game has made changes to increase the amount in the top prize. The biggest one so far was the $2.04 billion jackpot won in 2022, and the second and third biggest — $1.817 billion and $1.787 billion — were both won last year. The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was May 2. When no one wins, the jackpot rolls over and increases. Once someone wins, it resets to a default $20 million. The game recently expanded to allow bettors in the United Kingdom to participate. That started July 21. In the U.S., it’s played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.