A California Lottery official said that winning tickets for the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.
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The ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, a Los Angeles suburb located in southwest of San Bernardino County.
Florida’s store collects $100,000, and California’s $1 million bonus will be shared between the Chino Hills store owner and the 7-Eleven company. The winning Florida ticket was sold at a Publix grocery store in Melborne Beach.
The Powerball Jackpot easily broke lottery records during Wednesday night’s drawing, sitting at an estimated $1.5 billion.
The winners can choose to have the payment in a lump sum of US$930 million (NZ$1.431 billion) after tax, or the full US$1.5B in payments over 29 years.
But a winning ticket will still be a staggering payday. Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, DC and two U.S. territories. The winning ticket in Tennessee was sold in Munford, north of Memphis, according to a news release from lottery officials in that state. California Lottery spokesman Alex Travesta told the AP that the first winning ticket was sold at a local 7/11, where social media posts showed a huge crowd gathering following the announcement. Tonight’s drawing will take place at 7:59 p.m., and California tickets must be purchased before 7 p.m.
Kelly Cripe of the Texas Lottery says 85.8 percent of possible number combinations have been selected ahead of the drawing scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Since the jackpot began building in November, in-state sales totaled about $386 million, about 93% of the agency’s fiscal-year-end sales goal, he said. The Florida jackpot victor will share the $1,586,400,000 prize with winners in CA and TN, the lottery says.
In the four days since the last drawing failed to produce a victor, the jackpot grew by more than $500 million.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – When the largest-ever lottery prize is finally awarded, the winners and losers will extend well beyond the lucky few who hit the jackpot and the multitudes of disappointed ticket buyers.
“I know it’s a waste of money, but why not dream a little?” he said.
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However, 5 ticket holders matched 5 numbers and won $1 million each, according to Jeff Holyfield of the Michigan Lottery. Different states close ticket sales and different times, and customers have reported waiting hours in line to nab a Powerball ticket.
