A North Carolina resident has claimed the lottery's first major prize of 2026, winning a $209.3 million Powerball jackpot in Wednesday's drawing, the North Carolina Lottery said Thursday.
The winning ticket matched all six numbers in the drawing: 11, 26, 27, 53, 55, and Powerball 12. The single ticket holder now faces a major financial decision: accept an estimated annuity of $209.3 million over 30 installments spanning 29 years, or claim a lump-sum payment of $95.3 million.
The winnings are the first jackpot since late December, when another fortunate player in Arkansas secured a much larger prize, claiming a $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, making it the second-largest jackpot in U.S. Powerball history.
The winning ticket was purchased at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, about 30 miles northeast of Little Rock.
That December win ended a three-month drought for top-prize winners and was followed by the recent reset. The drawing on Wednesday brings the jackpot back to $20 million.
The North Carolina winner should take immediate steps to protect their newfound wealth, with lottery officials recommending that they sign the back of the winning ticket to establish ownership and store it securely. The winner has 180 days from the drawing to claim their prize.
Texas, Missouri Big Wins
The latest win comes after another historic Powerball drawing on Sept. 6, when two winners split the second-largest jackpot ever awarded of $1.8 billion.
A Texas trust claimed over $410 million from that drawing, representing the largest single prize ever awarded to a Texas lottery player.
The trust's representative said they typically use random number selection, but chose meaningful numbers for this particular ticket.
"We are Texas true to the state and its values," the trust representative said in a statement provided through legal counsel. "We believe in family, in faith, and in the blessings that come through both. This is a moment of gratitude for us, a blessing we plan to enjoy and share with those who are special to us and who serve our community."
The other claimant from that jackpot was from Missouri and opted for a similar one-time payment of approximately $410.3 million. Their Quick Pick ticket was purchased at a St. Louis QuickTrip location.
That September jackpot had grown during an unprecedented 42-drawing run, establishing a record for Powerball's longest jackpot streak before being claimed. The jackpot had begun at just $20 million on June 2 before the historic climb.
With odds of one in 292.2 million for matching all six numbers, Powerball's game design intentionally generates large jackpots through rollovers when no winners emerge. Tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.