A single ticket sold in Illinois matched all six numbers in the $1.04 billion Powerball drawing held Wednesday. The winner’s identity remains unknown, while a California ticket also claimed a major prize.
A ticket purchased in Illinois matched all six numbers in Wednesday’s $1.04 billion Powerball drawing, making it one of the largest lottery wins in U.S. history. The identity of the winner has not been disclosed as of Thursday morning.
The winning numbers drawn were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, with Powerball 9. In addition to the jackpot, a ticket sold in Sacramento, California matched five numbers, earning a prize of $820,520, according to Powerball officials.
Powerball’s Reach and Game Details
Powerball is available in 45 states, including Nevada’s neighbors California and Arizona, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nevada does not participate in Powerball, so Las Vegas residents must travel out of state to purchase tickets. Players select five white-ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Drawings are held three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Record U.S. Lottery Jackpots
Since 2016, more than a dozen U.S. lottery jackpots have surpassed $1 billion. The largest to date was a $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in California in November 2022. Other notable jackpots include a $1.787 billion Powerball split between Missouri and Texas in 2025, and a $1.765 billion Powerball won in California in 2023. Illinois, the site of this week’s winning ticket, previously saw a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot in July 2022.
While Nevada residents and visitors cannot buy Powerball tickets within the state, major jackpots often prompt travel to nearby states, especially during record-setting drawings. For those seeking help with gambling issues, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
