An unnamed customer at Hy‑Vee Fast & Fresh in Quincy purchased a $2 Quick‑Pick ticket that matched the $1.04 billion Powerball draw on Aug 12, making it the state’s second‑largest jackpot and the eighth‑largest in the game’s history. The ticket was bought on a single line, and the Illinois Lottery confirmed the prize had been running since May 4 before it finally topped out.
The winner, who has chosen to stay anonymous under state law, spent several weeks consulting with legal and financial advisers before electing to receive the prize as a lump‑sum payment rather than the annuity option. Amanda Crosas, manager of the Illinois Lottery Chicago Prize Centre, noted that “a $1 billion jackpot is truly extraordinary” and that the prize’s claim after a month of anticipation was “exciting”.
Hy‑Vee Fast & Fresh, the retailer that sold the winning ticket, earned a $500,000 bonus for the sale. Illinois Lottery players purchased more than $53.8 million worth of Powerball tickets during the run, with $26 million directed to the Common School Fund and $2.5 million in retailer commissions.
The Illinois Lottery allows winners of prizes over $250,000 to remain anonymous, a rule that has been in place for eight years. The winner now has 12 months to claim the prize and 60 days to elect the lump‑sum option, a process that will be completed by the Lottery’s scheduled payout window.
The payout will be processed by the Illinois Lottery and is expected to be completed within the statutory timeframe. The decision to stay anonymous means the public will learn only the retailer and the date of the draw, not the winner’s identity.