Texas lottery winner secures portion of record-breaking $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot
In a monumental win, the Seven Bridges Revocable Trust from Fredericksburg, Texas, secured a portion of the historic $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot. This prize, from the September 6 drawing, ranks as the second largest in both Powerball and U.S. lottery history. Sharing the grand prize with a winner from Missouri, the Texas Lottery player chose the cash option and received $410,324,470.28 before taxes. This makes it the largest payout to a single Texas Lottery player to date.
Winning Ticket Details
The lucky ticket was purchased at Big’s 103, situated at 11905 E. U.S. Highway 290. The owner selected numbers 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and Powerball 17, all of which matched the drawn numbers. For selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the retailer earned a $250,000 bonus.
Interestingly, the player usually opts for random numbers but chose significant numbers for this draw. However, they later realized that one number was different from their intent. Upon checking their ticket, the day after the draw, while on the way to church, they discovered the win. A representative conveyed their excitement and intention to share the blessings, asking for privacy as they celebrate this momentous occasion.
Historical Context and Statements
The Powerball jackpot began at $20 million on June 2 and went unclaimed for 42 consecutive drawings, marking the longest run before a jackpot win. This win is the Texas Lottery’s third Powerball jackpot victory since joining the multijurisdictional game in 2010. The last notable win for Texas was in February 2015, when an Austin claimant won a share of a $564.1 million jackpot.
Courtney Arbour, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, expressed delight over this milestone win. Arbour highlighted the significant contributions of the Texas Lottery in generating crucial funds for public education and veterans’ services.
Impact and Contributions
Since its inception in 1992, the Texas Lottery has been pivotal in generating over $41.5 billion in state revenue and awarding more than $93.5 billion in prizes. Its contributions to the Foundation School Fund since 1997 exceed $35.5 billion, supporting public education in Texas. Additionally, revenues from the lottery also bolster programs like the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.
Since 2009, the Texas Lottery has allocated more than $279 million to support Texas veterans through themed scratch ticket games, demonstrating its commitment to veteran assistance.
This latest win reinforces the Texas Lottery’s role in generating excitement and substantial funding for state programs, showcasing the potential of any lottery ticket to become a life-changing win.
