Gas stations in Missouri and Texas sold tickets for $1.787 billion Powerball jackpot

Two lottery tickets that together claimed a $1.787 billion Powerball jackpot were sold at a QuikTrip in north St. Louis County, Missouri, and at Bigs Gas Station off U.S. Highway 290 in Fredericksburg, Texas, officials said, deepening public interest even as the identities of the winners may remain private.

The two winning tickets matched all six numbers in a drawing that had stretched to a record 42 consecutive rollovers, making it the second-largest prize in Powerball history. The jackpot will be split evenly, with each winner entitled to a share of $893.5 million in annuity payments over 30 years or a one-time lump sum payout of $410.3 million before taxes, Powerball officials said. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.

Matt Strawn, chair of the Powerball Product Group and chief executive of the Iowa Lottery, congratulated the winners and noted the broader fiscal impact of ticket sales. "Each $2 ticket sold during this Powerball jackpot run gave players a chance at the prize, while also supporting vital public programs and services in their communities — and that's worth celebrating," he said in a statement.

Missouri Lottery Executive Director Lester Elder said the prize marks a record-setting night for the state. "It was a record setting night for the Missouri Lottery, with the $893.5 million prize ranking as the highest jackpot prize won in Missouri to date," Elder said, noting it surpassed a previous state record of $293.7 million from a 2012 Powerball drawing.

The Texas Lottery described the Fredericksburg ticket as the largest prize involving a Texas Lottery player and the second-largest in both Powerball and U.S. lottery history. Melanie Carter, manager of the Texas gas station, told CBS Austin that employees alerted her early on the morning that the store had sold a winning ticket. She said higher sales as the jackpot climbed made it impossible to determine which customer or which employee printed the ticket.

State laws mean the winners may not be publicly identified. Missouri law, changed in 2021, grants lottery winners full anonymity unless they provide written consent to disclose their identity. In Texas, winners may choose to remain anonymous when prizes are valued at $1 million or more. Both winners will receive their shares before taxes; Missouri applies a 4 percent state tax on lottery prizes, while Texas does not levy a state tax on winnings.

The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 51 and 62, with a Powerball of 17, according to lottery officials. The prolonged run of rollovers drove higher ticket sales over multiple drawings, a common pattern in games with escalating jackpots.

The size of the prize and the rare dual winning tickets drew attention to the long-running debate over lottery odds and public spending. Supporters of lotteries point to proceeds that fund state programs, while critics highlight the regressive nature of ticket purchases. Powerball officials emphasized the programs supported by ticket revenue in their statements but did not provide immediate figures for proceeds from this jackpot run.

Winners who opt for the lump-sum payment will receive the reduced cash value, while those choosing the annuity will receive annual payments over 30 years. Both options are subject to applicable federal and state taxes. Lottery officials did not provide a timetable for when winners must come forward to claim prizes or for when checks would be distributed.

The announcement concludes a historic streak for the game, which had not had a jackpot claimed in 42 drawings. Lottery retailers that sold winning tickets often receive public attention and prize-related bonuses; Missouri and Texas officials said standard retailer procedures for validation and prize payment will be followed once the winning tickets are presented for verification.