Quincy Powerball Winner Claims $1.04 Billion Jackpot, Earning $450.5 Million in Cash
The winner of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot sold at a Quincy Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh has come forward to claim the prize, the second-largest lottery prize in Illinois history.
QUINCY, Ill. -- Officials with the Illinois Lottery confirmed on Tuesday that the winner of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, sold at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh on 36th Street in Quincy, has officially claimed the prize.
The jackpot, drawn on August 12, is the eighth-largest in the 34-year history of the Powerball game and the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois. The winner will take home $450.5 million, the jackpot's cash value, after choosing the lump-sum payment option over the annuity.
The winner elected to remain anonymous but shared a statement with lottery officials describing the overwhelming experience of the win.
"I initially didn't believe I had won, so I called a family member to confirm it," the winner said. "Even after claiming the prize, I'm still processing the news and experiencing the full range of emotions that come with winning a billion-dollar jackpot -- from disbelief and shock to overwhelming elation."
"I chose a Quick Pick and spent just $2 on a single line of Powerball numbers," the winner added. "I never could have imagined that a $2 purchase would lead to a $1.04 billion jackpot. This is truly a blessing, and I'm incredibly grateful for this unexpected and extraordinary opportunity."
Illinois Lottery officials said the winner spent several weeks working with professional legal and financial advisors to prepare the claim before coming forward.
Hy-Vee store gets $500,000 bonus
The Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store on 36th Street is receiving a $500,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket. The bonus will go directly to the Hy-Vee Corporation.
Store manager Jon Marshall said the massive win has put Quincy on the world map in ways he never expected.
"It's worldwide. I've heard a lot of things going on, people have told me stories that they were on a plane out of the country, and they were asked where they were from and they said Quincy and they said, 'Are you the Powerball winners?'" Marshall said. "And so, it definitely has put Quincy on the map. So that's one thing I always tell my customers, I go buy a Powerball ticket or buy a lottery ticket and put Quincy on the map and it's just amazing how it came true."
The $1.04 billion jackpot had drawn national and international attention since the August drawing, with the winning ticket the sole match among all Powerball tickets sold nationwide.