$2 Quick Pick nets anonymous winner $1.04bn Powerball prize
The retailer that sold the ticket collected a $500,000 bonus from the Illinois Lottery.
The hit
An anonymous winner has claimed a $1.04 billion (R16.95 billion) Powerball jackpot, the Illinois Lottery confirmed on 15 September 2026, nearly a month after the 12 August draw. The winner bought the $2 Quick Pick ticket at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store in Quincy, Illinois, & opted for a lump-sum payout.
Why it matters
Illinois law lets prizes over $250,000 stay anonymous, so the winner’s identity will not be disclosed. The retailer also profits when a jackpot ticket sells.
The record
| Jackpot claimed | $1.04 billion (Illinois Lottery) |
|---|---|
| Ticket cost | $2 Quick Pick, for the 12 August draw |
| Rank | Second-largest Illinois win, eighth-largest Powerball jackpot ever |
| Retailer bonus | $500,000 paid to Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh, Quincy |
| State education fund | $26 million generated for Illinois’s Common School Fund |
What happens next
The winner ultimately chose a lump-sum payout rather than the annuity option.
Sources: US PowerBall: anonymous winner claims R16.95 billion jackpot
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