Tickets in California and Wisconsin Win $632.6 Million Powerball Jackpot
Two tickets in California and Wisconsin matched all six numbers to win the $632.6 million Powerball grand prize on Wednesday night - the seventh-largest prize in the lottery's history.
The numbers drawn on Wednesday, January 5 were white balls 6, 14, 25, 33, 46, and the red Powerball, 17.
Both winners will have the choice to receive their prize as an annuity or lump sum. The annuity consists of 30 graduated payments over 29 years (one payment is made as soon as the prize is claimed). Each annuitized ticket is worth $316.3 million. The other payout option is a single lump sum cash value payment of $225.1 million. Both amounts are pre-tax.
The California ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, 6591 Wyndham Drive in Sacramento. The Wisconsin ticket was purchased at the Jackson Pointe Citgo. Packerland Drive in Ashwaubenonin, which is in the Green Bay area. Both stores will receive bonuses for selling the winning tickets.
"We are a family-owned business. We love our customers. It's kind of like a 'Cheers' here. Everybody knows their name," said Mary Willems, who has managed the Citgo for 15 years. "My heart's racing, I have goosebumps all over."
California gives Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot winners one year from the draw date to come forward to claim their prize. In Wisconsin, the winner has 180 days to claim.
Neither state allows lottery winners to stay anonymous, so we will eventually know the winners' names when they step forward to collect their prizes.
"We encourage everyone who played Powerball last night to check their tickets carefully and make sure you sign them," said Cindy Polzin, Director of the Wisconsin Lottery. Signing a lottery ticket is needed to prove ownership in the event the ticket is lost or stolen.
Ticket sales were higher than anticipated, driving the jackpot above its projected total. Players lined up around the block at some retailers as they went in search of the jackpot's instant millions.
The last time the Powerball top prize was won was 40 drawings ago, on October 4, 2021. California man Steve Godfrey took home the $699.8 million prize with a ticket purchased in Morro Bay. It was the fifth-highest prize in Powerball history and the seventh-largest in US lottery history.
Florida and Georgia Tickets Win $2 Million Each
The jackpot wasn't the only game in town last night. Many folks across the country scored big payouts, with more than three million tickets hitting a cash prize ranging from $4 to $2 million.
There were two $2 million winners in last night's draw. The Match 5 plus Power Play tickets were purchased in Florida and Georgia.
An additional 12 players enjoyed wins of $1 million apiece with Match 5 tickets sold in Arizona, California, Florida (3), Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York (2), and Texas.
Powerball has now reset to its current $20 million starting jackpot value for the next draw on Saturday, January 8. Before that, there's another opportunity to hit it big on Mega Millions this Friday, January 7, with a $278 million top prize. Tickets for both draws are on sale now.
Published: Friday, January 7, 2022Updated: Friday, January 7, 2022