AI-generated illustration of the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot won by a single ticket sold in Illinois.

A Powerball player in Illinois is holding a ticket worth an estimated $1.04 billion after matching every number in Wednesday night’s drawing.

The winning ticket matched the five white balls — 4, 26, 66, 67 and 69 — along with the red Powerball 9. The win brings an end to a 44-drawing stretch without a jackpot winner.

Illinois Ticket Claims One of Powerball’s Biggest Jackpots

The $1.04 billion prize ranks as the eighth-largest jackpot ever won in Powerball history.

The winner now has two choices. They can receive the advertised $1.04 billion through an annuity or take an estimated $450.5 million cash payment, with both amounts listed before taxes.

If the winner chooses the annuity, the prize would be distributed through an initial payment followed by 29 annual payments. Those yearly payments increase by 5% over the course of the payout period.

Winning Powerball Numbers

The numbers drawn Wednesday were:

White balls: 4, 26, 66, 67, 69
Powerball: 9
Power Play: 2X

For anyone who bought a ticket for the drawing, checking the numbers carefully is important. The jackpot-winning ticket was sold in Illinois, but several other players also won significant prizes.

Four tickets sold in Arizona, California, Florida and North Carolina matched all five white balls. Those tickets were worth $1 million, although California prizes are calculated differently. A Massachusetts ticket that matched all five white balls and used Power Play was worth $2 million.

What Happens to the Powerball Jackpot Now?

The massive jackpot has now been reset. Following the Illinois win, the estimated jackpot for Saturday’s drawing is $20 million.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain extremely long at approximately 1 in 292.2 million.

The latest drawing was also notable because it marked the first time players from the United Kingdom were included since Powerball ticket sales launched there in July.

For now, the identity of the Illinois winner has not been publicly announced. The winning ticket has turned an ordinary lottery purchase into one of the biggest Powerball wins in U.S. history.

Sources

  • Powerball: Official drawing results and jackpot information for the Aug. 12, 2026, drawing. Powerball Official Results
  • Powerball: Official announcement confirming the $1.040 billion jackpot was won in Illinois. Powerball Latest News
  • ABC News: Independent reporting on the Illinois ticket, winning numbers and prize options.
  • Yahoo News: Additional reporting on the Powerball jackpot winner and drawing results.

Originally written and independently reported from cited sources.

The source report was published August 13, 2026.