Illinois Powerball player takes down $1.04bn jackpot

• The largest jackpot in 2026 and the eighth-largest in the history of Powerball was won by a player in Illinois on August 12, 2026
• The player can collect the entire top prize for a $1.04bn payday via annuity payments or take home a one-time cash sum of $450.5m
• Growing its reach to the United Kingdom, Powerball can generate bigger jackpots faster

After more than 40 consecutive draws, the Powerball jackpot was finally won.

A single ticket matched all winning numbers to win the game’s top prize in its latest drawing on Wednesday.

Whopping $1.04bn jackpot goes to Illinois

The Powerball drawing on Wednesday saw winning numbers 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and red Powerball number 9 drawn.

The Power Play multiplier for that particular drawing was 2.

In an unexpected turn of events, the jackpot was won after a single ticket sold in Illinois matched all winning numbers.

A statement released by the popular lottery game confirms that the Powerball jackpot on Wednesday was the mind-blowing $1.04 bn.

The win marked the biggest jackpot for 2026, and the sixth one won this year.

At the same time, this was the first jackpot run to include UK players, after Powerball launched ticket sales in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2026.

To collect the entire $1.04 bn jackpot prize, the incredibly fortunate player can receive it via annuity.

On the other hand, they can also collect a one-time, lump cash sum of approximately $450.5m.

It is worth noting that both sums are before the applicable taxes.

However, regardless of the option and the applicable state and feral taxes, the jackpot sum remains completely life-changing.

Won on the 44th consecutive draw, the $1.04bn Powerball jackpot marked the eighth largest prize in the history of the game.

Sixth Powerball jackpot in 2026 won

Before the jackpot win on August 12, 2026, the last time the Powerball jackpot dropped was on May 2, when two tickets, one in Florida and one in Texas, won the game’s $20m prize.

Before that, on April 29, 2026, the $143m Powerball jackpot was split after two players, one in Indiana and one in Kansas, who matched all winning numbers.

Earlier this year, a $230.8m Powerball jackpot went to Delaware after it was hit on April 6, and before that, a fortunate player from Arkansas won the game’s top prize on March 2 for a $250.8m payday.

The first jackpot for 2026, a sweet $209.3m, was won in North Carolina on January 21.

Stephen Durrell, the Chair of the Powerball Product Group and Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery, spoke with excitement about the jackpot win.

"Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winner in Illinois," he said.

Durell added: "For more than three decades, Powerball has shown that a winning ticket can be sold anywhere the game is played, giving every $2 ticket the chance to change not only a winner’s life, but generations to come."

The executive pointed to the game’s expansion in the UK, acknowledging that jackpots are expected to grow larger and faster, promising unforgettable moments.

Powerball urged all lottery players who bought tickets for the game’s Wednesday drawing to check them carefully, as there were more than 3 million tickets winning various cash prizes.

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