Powerball Jackpot of $1.765 Billion Claimed by Californian Participant

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The $1.765 billion top prize in the Powerball lottery was secured by a participant in California on Wednesday evening, culminating an extended duration without any claimant for the grand prize.

The victorious numbers disclosed were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. The prize-winning ticket emerged from Midway Market & Liquor, situated in Frazier Park, as announced by the California Lottery.

Calls made to Midway Market & Liquor on Wednesday evening remained unattended.

Duke, an employee at the store during the night shift, commented to KCAL-TV about the incessant phone calls, with many offering congratulations. He humorously remarked on how several regular customers promised him a new truck should they ever win, adding, “I’m still awaiting my truck.”

The store employee anticipates that the winner might be from the local community.

The mammoth prize was clinched after 35 uninterrupted drawings had passed without a significant win. This sequence dates back to July 19, when another Californian managed to secure all six numbers, netting $1.08 billion.

This jackpot has become the second most substantial global lottery amount, having rolled over for 36 uninterrupted times. This chain is only surpassed by the 41 draws milestone set during 2021-2022. The final ticket sales escalated the jackpot to surpass its preliminary projection of $1.73 billion for the Wednesday draw.

The record for the largest prize ever still stands with a $2.04 billion Powerball prize claimed by a Californian player the previous November.

The very design of Powerball, with its challenging odds of 1 in 292.2 million, is tailored to amass massive jackpots. This becomes more evident as the prize money escalates with every unsuccessful drawing.

However, these odds did not deter hopefuls, such as Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician from Massachusetts, who purchased 40 Powerball tickets. Post his recent wedding, Salvato whimsically spoke of spoiling his cat and his new wife with potential winnings.

Residents of Nevada, a state that does not offer Powerball, saw individuals like Tamara Carter and Denise Davis journeying to California to partake. Yet, they found themselves overwhelmed by the lengthy queues at ticket outlets.

The magnitude of the jackpot can be attributed to an extended period without winners. The last Powerball jackpot was procured on July 19, amounting to $1.08 billion after 39 draws sans a jackpot victor.

Powerball, available in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, costs $2 per ticket in most regions. The lump-sum payout option for the $1.765 billion was approximated at $774.1 million, though most winners typically select this over the annuity option.

It is essential to note that the winnings would be susceptible to federal levies, with several states imposing their taxes on lottery proceeds.

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Contributions to this coverage were made by Rodrique Ngowi from Billerica, Massachusetts, and Ty O’Neil from California, in proximity to Primm, Nevada.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Powerball jackpot

More about Powerball jackpot

• California Lottery Official Site
• Powerball Official Website
• KCAL-TV News Coverage
• Lottery Taxation Information
• Historical Largest Powerball Jackpots
• Odds and Statistics of Powerball