Illinois Convenience Store Sells the $1.04 Billion Powerball Ticket That Ended a 44-Draw Drought

One ticket purchased at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store in Quincy, Illinois, matched every number drawn on August 12, 2026, securing the $1.04 billion jackpot that stands as the largest lottery prize awarded that year and the eighth-largest in Powerball history. The winning combination consisted of 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and Powerball 9, and lottery officials confirmed the ticket represented the sole match after 44 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner.

The August 2026 Drawing and Its Immediate Aftermath

Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, yet the August 12, 2026, event produced a rare single-ticket outcome that reset the progressive jackpot to its base level once the claim process began. Lottery records show the prize had grown steadily through the extended drought, and when the numbers were verified the estimated annuity value reached $1.04 billion while the cash option settled at approximately $450.5 million before taxes. Those figures reflect the standard calculation method used by the Multi-State Lottery Association for Powerball jackpots.

Where the Ticket Was Sold and How Claims Proceed

The Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh location in Quincy handled the sale, and store management has not released additional details beyond confirming the transaction occurred on the premises. Illinois law permits winners to remain anonymous, and the holder of this ticket has exercised that option so far. Claimants typically have up to one year from the drawing date to present the ticket, and once validated the winner may choose between the 30-year annuity paid in graduated installments or the lump-sum cash value quoted at roughly $450.5 million before federal and state taxes are applied.

Historical Context Within Powerball Records

Powerball history places this $1.04 billion prize behind only seven larger jackpots, all of which occurred in prior years when the game structure and ticket sales volume produced different growth trajectories. The 44-draw drought that preceded the win ranks among the longer stretches without a top prize, and data from the Multi-State Lottery Association shows such gaps occur when ticket sales do not align with the mathematical probability thresholds required to trigger a winner. August 2026 marked the first time since the previous rollover cycle that a single ticket captured the entire amount, rather than multiple tickets sharing teh pool.

Prize Payment Structures and Tax Implications

Recipients who select the annuity receive the first payment shortly after the claim and then annual installments that increase by five percent each year over three decades, while the cash option delivers the discounted present value in one pre-tax sum. Federal withholding applies at 24 percent on the cash amount, and Illinois state tax adds another layer, though the final net figure depends on the winner's total taxable situation and any additional deductions. Lottery officials have stated that the choice between annuity and cash rests entirely with the claimant once identity verification and ticket authentication are complete.

Conclusion

The Quincy ticket therefore closes one of the longer Powerball jackpot droughts on record while establishing 2026 as the year of the single largest prize awarded. All procedural steps remain available to the holder, and the Multi-State Lottery Association continues to publish updated jackpot estimates for subsequent drawings now that the progressive pool has reset.