A massive $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot was finally won on Wednesday night by a lucky player in California, bringing an end to a long stretch without a top prize winner. The winning numbers for the jackpot were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64, and the Powerball number 10. The winning ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, according to the California Lottery.
Midway Market & Liquor received numerous phone calls congratulating them on selling the winning ticket, but they were unable to respond due to the overwhelming volume of calls. Duke, the store’s night worker, expressed his excitement and humorously mentioned that someone owes him a truck. Many of the store’s customers had promised to buy him a new truck if they ever won, and he is eagerly waiting for their fulfillment.
The anticipation had been building as 35 consecutive drawings went by without a big winner, with the last jackpot win occurring on July 19 when a California player took home $1.08 billion. This recent jackpot is now the world’s second-largest lottery prize after continuously rolling over for 36 drawings since July.
The odds of winning the Powerball are notoriously slim at 1 in 292.2 million, but players have been undeterred as they continue to chase the dream of instant wealth. The allure of huge jackpots keeps them coming back for more, even amidst extended periods without winners. The previous record for consecutive drawings without a top prize win was 41 draws, set in 2021 and 2022.
Only one Powerball prize has ever been larger than this recent jackpot – a staggering $2.04 billion won by another California player in November of last year. With the odds stacked against them, players remain persistent in their hopes of striking it rich.