Missouri Powerball winner takes record $893.5 million prize; remains anonymous and plans a quiet life

Missouri’s largest lottery prize has been claimed in a Powerball drawing that produced a two-state split of the record $1.787 billion jackpot. The Missouri winner, who requested anonymity under state law, holds an annuity share valued at $893.5 million and accepted a one-time lump-sum payment of about $410.3 million. The winning ticket was purchased at a QuikTrip in St. Louis for the Sept. 6 drawing, the Missouri Lottery said.

"I’m a millionaire, a multi-millionaire, and I’m doing laundry last night…" the winner told reporters, noting that Missouri allows winners to remain anonymous. He said the win has brought sleepless nights but also the sense that it’s the “best problem I’ve ever had.” He added that, for the first year, he and his wife plan to focus on themselves and relax at home, joking that his wife may "drag me out of town now" from time to time.

The winner described himself as a homebody, saying, "I’m like a homebody. The perfect day is sitting at home doing what I do – relaxing." He explained that the new life will be a gradual adjustment, with the focus in the near term on his family rather than extravagant purchases. The Missouri Lottery said the ticket was bought in St. Louis for the Sept. 6 drawing, and the prize is part of a two-state split that includes a Texas winner.

Missouri Lottery Executive Director Lester Elder said the state’s record prize marks a historic moment for Missouri. He noted that the $893.5 million figure represents the annuity value of the jackpot for the Missouri winner, who must share the overall prize with a Texas winner. The corresponding lump-sum payment for each winner is about $410.3 million. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the overall chance of winning any prize is 1 in 24.9 million.

The Powerball drawing has produced multiple big paydays in 2025. The most recent winner was a California ticket holder who took home $204.5 million on May 31. Earlier in the year, three other jackpots were hit: a $167 million winner in Kentucky on April 26, a $526.5 million prize in California on March 29, and a $328.5 million winner in Oregon on January 18. California’s Edwin Castro still holds the record for the largest Powerball win in history, after claiming a $2.04 billion prize in November 2022 with a $997.6 million lump sum.

The Missouri win stands as the state’s largest lottery prize to date, surpassing the previous Missouri record of $293.7 million set in November 2012. Elder said the night was record-setting for the Missouri Lottery and underscored the broader Powerball market’s ongoing allure for players nationwide.

Including the current event, top Powerball jackpots have climbed into the billions on several occasions across the United States, fueling interest in the game’s dramatic potential as a life-changing payout. The evolving slate of winners in 2025 reflects ongoing volatility in the game’s jackpot odds and the broad appeal of large, multi-state lotteries for players seeking a transformative prize.

][IMAGE2: Bird’s-eye look at a storefront where lottery tickets are sold and the display of Powerball materials, illustrating the widespread reach of the game across states.]

The Missouri draw’s aftermath reinforces the notion that, for many players, Powerball remains less about a rapid lifestyle overhaul and more about the opportunity to secure financial security or alter life plans gradually. Analysts note that single lottery events of this magnitude can influence local economies, philanthropy, and family decisions, even as winners maintain privacy under state laws.

In Missouri, as in other jurisdictions, the governance of prize distribution is governed by state rules for anonymity in lottery winnings. The combination of an annuity payout and a lump-sum option provides the winner with a choice between a stream of payments over time and a substantial immediate sum, with tax considerations applying to whichever path is selected. The winner indicated that, at least for now, the emphasis will be on a quiet lifestyle and time spent with family, rather than immediate consumption or lavish purchases.

The broader lottery community watched closely as the prize highlighted the ongoing appeal of Powerball and its capacity to produce transformational outcomes for ordinary players who purchase ordinary tickets. With multiple jackpots already claimed in 2025, the ongoing cycle of large prizes continues to attract attention from participants and observers alike, underscoring the powerball game’s enduring presence in the U.S. gaming landscape.