A Powerball player is waking up much richer after winning the $1.04 billion jackpot Wednesday night — scooping up the eighth-largest prize in the game’s history.
A single ticket sold in Illinois matched all six numbers to take the prize, the lottery organization said in a statement. The whopping win marks the largest Powerball prize so far this year and came on the 44th consecutive drawing since the jackpot was last won, on May 2.
The payment can be claimed as $1.04 billion made in 30 payments over 29 years or as a lump-sum payment of $450.5 million. Both figures are subject to taxes.
More than 3 million tickets won cash prizes, including several at $1 million or more.
Wednesday’s drawing marks the first time people in the United Kingdom were eligible to play, which organizers say is expected to increase the potential for larger jackpots. The prize will reset to $20 million on Saturday.
The record amount for a Powerball Jackpot is $2.04 billion, won on Nov. 7, 2022, by a player from California.
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