A Powerball player in Illinois has won a $1.04 billion jackpot after matching all six numbers in Wednesday night's draw. This grand prize represents the largest U.S. jackpot awarded so far this year.
The winner, whose identity has not yet been released, has the option to receive the full $1.04 billion paid out over time or a one-time cash payout of $450.5 million before taxes. The winning ticket was sold at Hy-Vee Gas Fresh & Fast in Quincy, according to the state lottery.
The odds of matching all six numbers in Powerball are one in 292,201,338. The winning numbers for Wednesday's draw were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, and the Powerball number was 9.
In addition to the Illinois jackpot winner, another player in Massachusetts secured a $2 million prize by matching five white balls with the Power Play option. Four other tickets, sold in Arizona, California, Florida, and North Carolina, each won $1 million for matching five white balls.
"Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winner in Illinois," said Powerball Chairman Stephen Durrell in a statement. "As participation grows across markets, players are helping fuel larger jackpots and create even greater excitement for the game."