Illinois Ticket Wins $1.04 Billion Powerball Jackpot

A single ticket sold in Illinois has won a $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, marking the largest lottery prize awarded in the United States so far this year and the eighth-largest in the game's history. The winning ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which administers the game.

The winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67, and 69, with the red Powerball number being 9. The Power Play multiplier for the drawing was 2X. The jackpot had been growing since the last grand prize was won on May 2, when two tickets from Florida and Texas split a $20 million prize. Wednesday's drawing was the 44th in the current jackpot run.

The Illinois winner now faces a choice between two payment options. The annuitized prize is $1.04 billion, which would be paid as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year. Alternatively, the winner can opt for a lump-sum cash payment of $450.5 million. Both figures are before taxes. The winner must claim the prize by October 11 if they choose the lump-sum option, according to the Illinois Lottery.

Illinois law allows lottery winners of prizes over...