New Jersey ticket claims $847 million Powerball prize
The win ends a 35 drawing drought and ranks as the ninth largest payout in Powerball history.
By David Marshall ·
An $847 million Powerball jackpot landed in New Jersey on Wednesday night. A single ticket sold in the state matched all six winning numbers, securing the massive prize for an anonymous holder.
The winning numbers for the draw were 15, 34, 41, 53, and 56, with a red Powerball of 21. The ticket included the Power Play option with a 2X multiplier. This total places the win as the ninth largest in the history of the Powerball game.
The victory breaks a long wait for a top prize winner. The previous grand prize went to a ticket in Illinois in August, which claimed a $1.04 billion jackpot. That win occurred less than three months before this latest drawing.
The winner now faces a financial decision regarding the payout structure. They can choose an annuitized prize of $847 million paid over 29 years. Alternatively, they can take a one-time lump sum cash payment estimated at $363.1 million before taxes.
Powerball officials have not yet identified the specific retailer in New Jersey that sold the winning ticket. Under New Jersey state law, lottery winners are permitted to remain completely anonymous. The jackpot will reset to a starting prize of $20 million for the next drawing scheduled for Saturday night.
