The mystery behind a historic $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot appears to have been solved.
The Illinois Lottery announced Tuesday that the winner of the state’s second-largest lottery prize has come forward, nearly one month after the drawing.
Though they chose to remain anonymous, the winner did release a statement saying they were in disbelief at their life-changing win.
“I initially didn’t believe I had won, so I called a family member to confirm it,” the winner told the Illinois Lottery. “Even after claiming the prize, I’m still processing the news and experiencing the full range of emotions that come with winning a billion-dollar jackpot — from disbelief and shock to overwhelming elation.”
The winning prize came from a Quick Pick ticket purchased at a Hy-Vee in Quincy, Illinois, which sits on the state’s western border about two hours north of St. Louis. The lucky winner matched all six numbers: 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, with a red Powerball of 9.
“I never could have imagined that a $2 purchase would lead to a $1.04 billion jackpot. This is truly a blessing, and I’m incredibly grateful for this unexpected and extraordinary opportunity,” the winner said.
Locals in the small Illinois-Missouri border town had been itching to find out who the winner was.
“It’s just like a murder mystery,” one of the workers at the Hy-Vee gas station said. “It’s like, who did it? Who won? So all our regulars are coming in saying ‘not me,’ ‘not me.’ So we’re just kind of narrowing down in our head on who we haven’t seen yet.”
The gas station also hung a yellow sign declaring on the front door.
Illinois Lottery officials called the prize “truly extraordinary” and said it was “exciting” to see the prize be claimed after more than a month of waiting.
Illinois Lottery Director, Harold Mays (left), and Chicago Prize Center manager Amanda Crosas hold the big check representing the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot from the August 12 drawing.According to the lottery, the winner spent weeks working with legal and financial advisors to prepare for the claim and opted to receive a lump-sum payment instead of annuity.
“The Illinois Lottery is thrilled to officially welcome this historic winner,” Harold Mays, director of the Illinois Lottery, said in a statement. “A jackpot of this magnitude is an extraordinary event, and we’re excited to see the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois officially claimed. It’s exciting to see such a significant Powerball win come to an Illinois player, and we’re pleased to celebrate this milestone with them.”
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