NEW YORK (VINnews) — An Arkansas lottery player won a $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot Wednesday, ending a three-month stretch without a top-prize winner in the multistate game.
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The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number 19.
The prize was the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot on record and followed 46 consecutive drawings without a winner matching all six numbers. The previous jackpot was won Sept. 6, when tickets sold in Missouri and Texas split a $1.787 billion prize.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak – every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”
Powerball’s odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million, a structure designed to allow prizes to grow as drawings roll over. Lottery officials note that players have significantly better odds of winning smaller prizes.
The winner will have the option to receive the prize as an annuity totaling $1.817 billion or as a lump-sum payment of $834.9 million, both before taxes. If the annuity is selected, the payout includes an initial payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5 percent each year.
Powerball tickets cost $2. The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Wonderful. I always like it when there is a single winner.