Lottery

$1B Powerball Winner Comes Forward a Month After Hitting Life-Changing Jackpot

Posted on: September 18, 2026, 07:56h.

Last updated on: September 18, 2026, 07:56h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

A mystery Powerball winner has claimed the $1.04 billion jackpot from the Aug. 12 drawing but chose to remain anonymous
The winner spent $2 on a Quick Pick and took the $450.5 million cash option, receiving about $261.5 million after taxes
The jackpot was the eighth-largest Powerball prize ever, while Saturday’s drawing is estimated at $298 million

The mystery surrounding who won the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot drawn on Aug. 12, 2026, has been solved… sort of. The Illinois Lottery reports that the winner came forward this week to redeem the life-altering prize but wished to remain anonymous.

Powerball jackpot Illinois Lottery — Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays (left) and Chicago Prize Center Manager Amanda Crosas hold the big check representing the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot from the Aug. 12 drawing. The winner of the life-altering prize wished to remain anonymous. (Image: Illinois Lottery)

The big Powerball winner took advantage of Section 7.2 of the Illinois Lottery Law, which governs disclosure rules regarding winners’ identities. Under Section 7.2, a winner of a prize of $250,000 or more can request to keep their name and municipality of residence confidential while completing their Illinois Lottery Winner Claim Form.

Though the winner elected to remain anonymous, they shed some details on how the win came about.

I chose a Quick Pick and spent just $2 on a single line of Powerball numbers. 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,” the winner said.

“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 winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, and red Powerball 9.

Winner Takes Cash Option

Lottery officials said the Powerball winner elected for the one-time cash option instead of the annuity paid out over 29 years. The $450.5 million lump sum payout was reduced to about $261.5 million after federal and state taxes.

The $1.04 billion jackpot ranked eighth all-time for Powerball and marked the 15th billion-dollar lottery prize in US history. It was the second-largest lottery prize in Illinois behind the $1.33 billion Mega Millions jackpot won by an Illinois player in July 2022.

“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,” said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays. “It’s exciting to see such a significant Powerball win come to an Illinois player, and we’re pleased to celebrate this milestone with them.”

For selling the winning ticket, the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience store, located at 310 N. 36th St. in Quincy, collected a $500,000 retailer bonus.