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Powerball billion-dollar jackpot
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A single Powerball ticket sold in Illinois won the $1.04 billion jackpot. It's the eighth-largest Powerball prize ever and the biggest lottery prize of 2026.
Background
The Powerball jackpot had not been won in over 40 drawings since May 2, causing it to roll over and grow to over $1 billion. The winning ticket was sold at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh gas station in Quincy, Illinois, and matched all six numbers in the Aug. 12 drawing.
How it unfolded
- May 2, 2026Two players from Florida and Texas split a $20 million jackpot, starting the current rollover streak.
- Aug 10, 2026No winner in Monday's drawing, pushing the jackpot to $975 million.
- Aug 12, 2026Jackpot reaches $1 billion before the drawing; a single ticket sold in Illinois wins the $1.04 billion prize.
- Aug 13, 2026Lottery officials confirm the winning ticket was sold at a Hy-Vee gas station in Quincy, Illinois; winner not yet identified.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Powerball organizers confirmed the single winning ticket and the jackpot amount.
- Public
- The gas station manager said they've been getting calls since 3 a.m., calling it 'crazy'.
Still unverified
The winner's identity is not yet known; it is unconfirmed whether they will choose the annuity or lump sum.