$1.04 Billion Illinois Powerball winner claims prize anonymously after 34 days

The winner of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot has come forward, the Illinois Lottery said Tuesday, September 15, 34 days after the August 12 drawing.

The winner chose to remain anonymous and took the lump-sum payment over the annuity. The cash value of the jackpot was estimated at $450.5 million before taxes.

"I chose a Quick Pick and spent just $2 on a single line of Powerball numbers," the winner told lottery officials. "I never could have imagined that a $2 purchase would lead to a $1.04 billion jackpot. This is truly a blessing, and I'm incredibly grateful for this unexpected and extraordinary opportunity."

"I initially didn't believe I had won, so I called a family member to confirm it," the winner said. "Even after claiming the prize, I'm still processing the news and experiencing the full range of emotions that come with winning a billion-dollar jackpot — from disbelief and shock to overwhelming elation."

The ticket was bought at Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh at 310 N. 36th St. in Quincy and matched 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, and Powerball 9. It is the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois. We covered the drawing and the store that sold the ticket in August.

The winner came with lawyers

The winner spent the past month with legal and financial advisers, according to the lottery, and did not walk in alone. Amanda Crosas, who manages the Illinois Lottery's Chicago prize center, worked with the winner's legal representatives on the claim.

"After eight years of processing lottery claims, I've had the chance to meet many winners, but a $1 billion jackpot is truly extraordinary," Crosas said.

Illinois law lets winners of $250,000 or more ask to stay anonymous, so the announcement came with a quote and a photo of lottery staff holding the check, and no name. Anonymity rules differ sharply from state to state.

Inside the window for cash option with at least 26 days to spare

Illinois requires a jackpot winner to claim within 60 days of the drawing to take the lump sum (cash option), and that window closes on October 11. The winner made it with room to spare. After that date, the only option would have been 30 annual payments.

At 34 days from drawing to announcement, Illinois took longer than the last two billion-dollar claims we could date.

What $450.5 million leaves after 37% federal tax and Illinois's 4.95% rate, roughly $261.5 million for a single filer, is laid out in our $1 billion take-home breakdown.

The run that ended in Quincy began May 4. Over those 44 drawings, Illinois players bought more than $53.8 million in Powerball tickets and collected nearly $8 million in prizes on more than 965,000 winning tickets, not counting the jackpot. That works out to about $8 a winning ticket. Retailers earned $2.5 million in commissions and bonuses during the run, and the Quincy Hy-Vee received a $500,000 bonus for selling the jackpot ticket.

"A jackpot of this magnitude is an extraordinary event, and we're excited to see the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois officially claimed," Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays said.

Sources

Illinois Lottery: Mystery solved, Illinois Lottery confirms $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot has been claimed

ABC7 Chicago: Illinois winner of $1.04B Powerball jackpot claims prize

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