Missouri Man Claims Half of $1.787B Powerball Jackpot

The Missouri Powerball player who won half of the $1.787 billion jackpot that recently fell has come forward to claim his part of the prize, opting for taking the sum in a one-time payment.

Missouri Powerball Player Claims Prize

The Missouri Lottery did not disclose the winner’s name but announced in a news release that he intends to take some time off and enjoy his share of the $1.787 billion jackpot. A Powerball player in Texas claimed the other half of the prize, with both winners matching all six numbers drawn on September 6.

The jackpot fell after more than 40 draws. The lucky combination was 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the red Powerball – 17, with a multiplier of 2. After the draws, two tickets – one from Missouri and one from Texas – emerged as the clear winners.

The $1.787 billion Powerball jackpot ranks as the second-largest in US lottery history. The Missouri winning ticket was bought at a QuikTrip on Lusher Road in St. Louis County, while the Texas ticket was purchased at a gas station and convenience store in Fredericksburg. Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are available in 45 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Although the Missouri resident received only half of the jackpot, the man still won approximately $893.5 million before taxes. He had the choice between receiving the full amount in 30 annual payments or taking a one-time lump sum of about $410.3 million; he opted for the lump sum.

What Did the Winner Say?

According to a Monday announcement from the Missouri Lottery, the winner claimed his prize at their headquarters in Jefferson City. He shared that grasping the reality of such a massive win was difficult, and he spent several sleepless nights between discovering his win and officially claiming the prize, which is the largest ever awarded to a Missouri Lottery player.

The Missouri winner said he plans to “just do [himself] for a year.” He described himself as a homebody and mentioned that, now that he’s a multi-millionaire, he’s looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his wife. He added with a laugh that she’s probably going to drag him out of town. He also remarked on the surreal nature of his new reality, saying it was funny that, despite being a millionaire, he was still doing laundry the night before. He called it “the best problem he’s ever had.”