In one of the largest lottery games in the world, after nearly forty drawings without a winner, a ticket sold in California matched all six numbers, earning the "Powerball" jackpot for its owner, approximately $700 million, according to Euronews. The winning numbers last Monday evening were 12, 22, 54, 66, 69, and the Powerball number was 15.
The value of the Powerball jackpot had risen to $699.9 million after four full months without a winner or ticket sales depletion, making it the seventh-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, as no one had won the jackpot since June 5. According to officials in the state overseeing the game, the winning ticket was sold at a grocery store in Moro Bay, where the winner will choose between receiving the money in installments over 29 years or taking a cash payout of $496 million, both options subject to taxation.
Lottery officials stated that the winner's identity is still unknown until they formally come forward. Additionally, five tickets winning one million dollars each were sold: two in Massachusetts, one in Virginia, one in Florida, and one in Arizona. "Powerball" is played in 45 U.S. states, as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
