Illinois Lottery Confirms $1.04 Billion Powerball Winner Claims Prize

Illinois Lottery officials announced Tuesday that the sole winner of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, the second-largest prize in state history, has come forward to claim the award. The winner, who remains anonymous as permitted by state law for prizes over $250,000, purchased a $2 Quick Pick ticket at a Hy-Vee store in Quincy on August 12.

"I initially didn't believe I had won, so I called a family member to confirm it," the winner said in a statement released by the lottery.

The winner worked with legal and financial advisers before filing the claim and chose a lump-sum payout rather than the annuity option. Illinois Lottery Chicago Prize Center Manager Amanda Crosas, who handled the claim, said the size of the jackpot was unprecedented in her eight years of processing claims. > "After eight years of processing lottery claims, I've had the chance to meet many winners, but a $1 billion jackpot is truly extraordinary," she said.

Lottery Director Harold Mays called the claim a milestone for the state, noting that the August 12 drawing produced the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot in history. The retailer that sold the ticket received a $500,000 bonus, and store manager Jon Marshall said the sale put Quincy in the spotlight.

The jackpot run, which began on May 4 and ended with the August 12 drawing, generated more than $53.8 million in ticket sales, contributing $26 million to Illinois' Common School Fund and $2.5 million in retailer commissions. During the period, players purchased over 965,000 winning Powerball tickets, earning nearly $8 million in smaller prizes.