Oregon Sells Winning $1.3 Billion Powerball Ticket
In a significant turn of events, a Powerball player in Oregon struck gold, clinching a staggering jackpot worth more than $1.3 billion on Sunday, marking the end of a dry spell lasting over three months without a winner. The announcement of the single winning ticket came after a prolonged delay of over three hours following the drawing. Powerball confirmed that the winning ticket perfectly matched all six numbers drawn, securing the jaw-dropping jackpot of $1.326 billion.
This substantial prize carries a cash value of $621 million if the fortunate winner opts for a lump-sum payment rather than an annuity spread over 30 years, comprising an immediate payout followed by 29 annual installments. However, it’s essential to note that the prize is subject to federal taxes, and many states also impose taxes on lottery winnings.
The winning combination that led to this life-changing moment for the Oregon player comprised the numbers 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, along with the Powerball number 9. The Oregon Lottery confirmed that the lucky ticket was sold in Portland, Oregon, stirring excitement within the local community.
The winner has a grace period of one year to claim their monumental prize. However, in accordance with state law, individuals in Oregon typically cannot maintain anonymity after winning such substantial amounts.
Prior to this historic win, the largest Powerball prize awarded in Oregon stood at $340 million in 2005. The last significant Powerball jackpot claimed in Oregon was a $150.4 million windfall secured by a resident of Salem in 2018.
This extraordinary win comes after a prolonged dry spell, marked by 41 consecutive Powerball drawings without a jackpot winner, akin to streaks witnessed in both 2022 and 2021.
The $1.326 billion jackpot now ranks as the eighth largest in the history of U.S. lotteries. As the prize pools swell, drawing in more participants, there’s an increased likelihood of jackpot sharing among multiple winners. The odds of clinching the top prize were a staggering 1 in 292.2 million.
The scheduled drawing on Saturday faced delays, ultimately taking place in the Florida Lottery studio in the early hours of Sunday morning. This delay was attributed to necessary procedural formalities that required completion before the stipulated drawing time of 10:59 p.m.
