A single ticket sold in Michigan has won the Powerball jackpot on New Year's Day, bringing in a whopping $842.2 million. This makes it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot ever won. The lucky winner can choose to receive a lump sum payment of approximately $425.2 million before taxes, according to Powerball.
The winning numbers for Monday's drawing were 12, 21, 42, 44, 49, and the Powerball number 1. The jackpot exceeded its earlier estimate of $810 million due to increased ticket sales, making it the tenth-largest US lottery jackpot ever won.
The winning ticket was sold at the Food Castle of Grand Blanc in Grand Blanc, Michigan, marking the second-largest lottery jackpot ever won in the state. The largest jackpot in Michigan, a Mega Millions prize of $1.05 billion, was won in January 2021.
This win is also significant as it's the first time a Powerball jackpot has been won on New Year's Day since the game's inception in 1992, as stated by Powerball.
Apart from the jackpot winner, several tickets matched the first five numbers, winning substantial prizes. Tickets in California, Connecticut, Florida, and Maryland each won $1 million, while two tickets in Texas and Florida won $2 million each due to the Power Play feature.
Drew Svitko of Powerball expressed excitement about the jackpot and its positive impact on various causes supported by US lotteries. The jackpot had been growing for weeks with no grand prize winners, and this win marks an incredible beginning to the New Year.
The last time the Powerball jackpot was won was on October 11, with a California ticket scoring $1.76 billion. However, the winner has yet to come forward to claim the prize. If unclaimed by October 11 next year, the money will go to California public schools, according to the state lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker.
The overall odds of winning any prize in Powerball are 1 in 24.9, while the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
