The eight largest lottery prize in U.S. history was won on Sunday, after a player in Portland, Oregon, bought a winning Powerball ticket for the more than $1.3 billion jackpot.
The single ticket winner means that only one person got the six numbers right and will not have to split the total amount. The person, who has yet to claim the prize, will be able to choose a lump sum of $621 million (which will be subjected to taxes) or an annuity paid over 30 years, the first installment being granted immediately.
"I want to congratulate the winner on this life changing moment, Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said in a statement. "No one in Oregon has ever won a prize on this scale, and it's a very exciting for our staff and players." According to state law, players can't remain anonymous barring few exceptions.
The winning numbers drawn early Sunday morning were: 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and the red Powerball 9. They put an and to over three months of vacant drawings, the latest one taking place on New Year's Day when the winner took $842 million.
Overall, there were 41 Powerball drawings without a jackpot, tying a streak set twice in 2022 and 2021. It's not that surprising, considering that the odds of taking it are one in 292.2 million. There are smaller prizes available, which start at $4, twice as much the cost of a ticket.
As for luck in the state, The Associated Press recalled that the largest Powerball prize given in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005, the latest one being a $150.4 million prize in 2018.
Mega Millions, the other large lottery in the country, drew a winning ticket for a $1.13 billion jackpot two weeks ago. The winner, who bought the ticket in new jersey, ended 31 rounds without successful drawings, as odds of getting all of Mega Millions' six numbers right is one in more than 300 million.
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