The Powerball jackpot has been won, and it’s a big one. A single ticket sold in Illinois matched all six numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing, claiming an estimated $1.04 billion jackpot. This marks the largest U.S. lottery prize offered so far in 2026 and ranks as the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot in the game’s history.
The Winning Numbers
For those keeping track, the winning numbers from the Wednesday, August 12 drawing were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and the red Powerball 9. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
The drawing was the 44th consecutive drawing since the jackpot was last won on May 2, 2026. It was also the first jackpot run to include players from the United Kingdom, where Powerball ticket sales launched on July 21, 2026. With UK players now participating, the expanded player base is expected to help accelerate jackpot growth and increase the potential for even larger prizes in the future.
Jackpot Options: Annuity vs. Lump Sum
The lucky winner now faces a choice: take the full $1.04 billion as an annuity paid out over 29 years, or accept a one-time lump sum cash payment of $450.5 million. Both options are before taxes.
For context, the jackpot had climbed steadily throughout August. On August 10, the prize stood at an estimated $905 million with a cash value of $391.9 million. By August 11, it had risen to $975 million, and after final ticket sales from Monday’s drawing exceeded expectations, officials increased the estimate to $1 billion ahead of Wednesday’s drawing. The final sales pushed it to $1.04 billion.
A Year of Big Wins
2026 has already seen several significant Powerball jackpot winners:
- January 21 – $209.3 million (North Carolina)
- March 2 – $250.8 million (Arkansas)
- April 6 – $230.8 million (Delaware)
- April 29 – $143 million (Indiana and Kansas)
- May 2 – $20 million (Florida and Texas)
Wednesday’s $1.04 billion win tops them all, cementing 2026 as a remarkable year for Powerball.
What Happens Next?
With the jackpot now claimed, the Powerball jackpot resets to $20 million for the next drawing on Saturday. The Power Play 10X multiplier will be available since the advertised jackpot is below $150 million.
More than 3 million tickets won cash prizes in Wednesday night’s drawing by matching one or more of the winning numbers. Four tickets sold in Arizona, California, Florida and North Carolina matched all five white balls to win the Match 5 prize of $1 million each. A fifth ticket sold in Massachusetts also matched all five white balls and, because it included the Power Play option, increased its winnings to $2 million.
Powerball by the Numbers
- Cost per play: $2
- Odds of winning the jackpot: 1 in 292.2 million
- Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24.9
- Drawings: Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET
- Where sold: 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom
The all-time record Powerball jackpot remains the $2.04 billion prize won in California in November 2022. Wednesday’s $1.04 billion win now sits at No. 8 on the all-time list, behind the $1.08 billion jackpot won in California in July 2023 and ahead of the $842.4 million jackpot won in Michigan on New Year’s Day 2024.
The Bottom Line
For now, all eyes are on Illinois as the search for the state’s newest billionaire begins. The winner has yet to come forward publicly, but one thing is certain: a single $2 ticket purchased in the Prairie State has delivered a life-changing prize that will rank among the largest lottery wins in American history.