Hailey
The Powerball jackpot has finally found its winners after weeks of excitement. On Saturday night, the Multi-State Lottery Association confirmed that the nearly $1.8 billion Powerball prize was claimed.
Powerball Jackpot: The lucky winning tickets came from Texas and Missouri, splitting the massive jackpot between two players. This is now the second-largest prize in Powerball history and the biggest one ever involving a Texas Lottery player.
Jackpot Breakdown
The winning players will be able to choose how they want their money:
| Option | Prize Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Annuity | $893.5 million | Paid in 30 payments over 29 years |
| Lump Sum | $410.3 million | One-time cash payment |
This flexibility lets winners decide between long-term financial security or instant access to a huge fortune.
The Texas Winning Ticket
The winning Texas ticket was sold at Big’s 103, a convenience store in Fredericksburg, located in the Hill Country. This town is just northeast of Kerrville, an area recently hit by devastating floods that killed over 100 people statewide in July.
- Store Manager Reaction: Melanie Carter, the store’s manager, said she was shocked when she heard the news. “We’re a new store, so we never expected this,” she shared.
- Hope for a Local Winner: Carter added that she hopes the winner is a local resident who truly needs the money.
The Texas Lottery confirmed that Big’s 103 will receive a $250,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
Community Hopes and Reactions
Many locals hope the Texas winner comes from Kerrville, a community still struggling after the floods.
- Customer Reaction: Carson McCoy, a Kerrville resident, said, “We need all the help we can get. It’s a lot of money that could do some real good.”
- The news has brought excitement, not only for the winners but also for the possibility of positive change in local communities.
Missouri Winning Ticket
While the Texas winner’s location is confirmed, it’s still unclear where in Missouri the second ticket was sold. The identities of both winners remain private, as lottery rules allow players to stay anonymous in certain states.
Powerball History and Numbers
This record-breaking draw reached $1.787 billion after there were no winners since May 31. It marks the second-largest jackpot ever, only behind the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California in November 2022.
- Winning Numbers: 11, 23, 44, 61, 62 and Powerball 17
- Historic Prize: The largest involving a Texas Lottery player
- Why It Grew So High: The jackpot kept rolling over for months, boosting the total to nearly $1.8 billion.
Why Powerball Jackpots Keep Growing
The main reason Powerball jackpots grow so large is because no one wins for multiple drawings. Each time, more players buy tickets, and the prize increases. This creates nationwide buzz, with millions dreaming of becoming overnight billionaires.
The $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot has made history, with winners from Texas and Missouri now holding life-changing tickets. While their identities remain private, the excitement has spread far beyond the winners themselves.
For locals in Fredericksburg and Kerrville, this victory feels like a hopeful moment after recent hardships. Whether the winners choose long-term payments or the lump sum, this prize will remain a legend in lottery history and a reminder that luck can strike anywhere.