Jefferson City, Missouri – The Missouri Lottery has confirmed that one of the winners of the historic $1.787 million Powerball jackpot has officially stepped forward to claim his share of the prize.
The lucky winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, held one of the two winning tickets from the September 6 drawing, which went down in history as the second-largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded in the United States.
A Quiet Life After a Life-Changing Win
The Missouri man described himself as a homebody, telling lottery officials that he simply looks forward to taking some time off and enjoying quiet moments with his wife.
“I’m just going to be myself for a year,” he said while accepting his prize in Jefferson City. “The perfect day for me is sitting at home, relaxing, and doing what I always do.”
With humor, he added about his wife: “Now she’s going to make me leave the house.”
The Big Decision: Lump Sum or Annuity
Winners of the massive jackpot were given a choice between an annuitized payout of $893.5 million or a lump sum of $410.3 million, both before taxes. The Missouri winner opted for the one-time payment, the lottery confirmed.
Reflecting on his sudden fortune, he admitted the reality hasn’t fully sunk in yet:
“I’m a millionaire — a multimillionaire — and last night I was still doing the laundry. It’s hard to believe.”
He also confessed that he has struggled to sleep since realizing he had the winning numbers: “It’s the best problem I’ve ever had.”
Where the Winning Tickets Were Sold
The Missouri ticket was purchased at a QuikTrip gas station in St. Louis, which will also receive a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The other winning ticket was sold at a Big’s convenience store in Fredericksburg, Texas, roughly 70 miles northwest of San Antonio, according to the Texas Lottery.
The winning numbers from the September 6 drawing were: 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, with a red Powerball of 17 and a Power Play multiplier of 2.
Historic Context of the Jackpot
The September 6 drawing ended a record-breaking streak of 42 consecutive Powerball drawings without a jackpot winner, a run dating back to May.
While this $1.787 million prize is historic, it falls just short of the largest-ever Powerball jackpot of $2.04 million, which was won in California on November 7, 2022.
Localized Perspective: What This Means for Missouri & Texas
Missouri: The win brings national attention to St. Louis, where the QuikTrip store that sold the ticket has suddenly become a local landmark. Residents have been flocking to the store to try their luck, hoping lightning might strike twice.
Texas: Fredericksburg’s Big’s convenience store has also become the center of local buzz, with Texans celebrating the state’s share of the historic jackpot.
Nationwide Impact: With Powerball sales surging during record jackpots, states benefit from increased lottery revenue, much of which is funneled into education and community programs.
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