Two States, Two Tickets, One $1.8 Billion Powerball Jackpot
Two lucky tickets, one sold in Missouri and the other in Texas, hit all the winning numbers in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, splitting a record-breaking prize. The numbers drawn were 11, 23, 44, 61, 62, and the red Powerball 17. Because both players matched all five white balls and the Powerball, they will share the $1.787 billion jackpot, which ranks as the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history, behind only the $2.04 billion Powerball win in November 2022.
Winners can choose between an annuity or a one-time cash option. The annuity would pay about $893 million over 30 years, while the lump sum is estimated at $826 million. Since there are two winners, each would collect roughly $446.5 million if they take the cash. All of these amounts are before taxes, which will further reduce the final payout.
Powerball has been drawing crowds since its start in 1992. A ticket costs $2, but the odds of hitting the jackpot are about one in 292 million. Those steep odds rarely dampen enthusiasm, especially when jackpots climb into the billions and ticket sales surge.
For the winners, sudden wealth can bring challenges as well as opportunities. Bud Post, who won $16.2 million in 1988, squandered his fortune, faced lawsuits, and died broke. Jack Whittaker, who won a $315 million Powerball prize in 2002, was robbed multiple times and endured personal tragedies linked to his win. Evelyn Adams, who won twice in the 1980s, gambled much of her money away and later lived in a trailer.
These examples feed into the idea of a “lottery curse,” where instant riches lead to turmoil. But not every story ends badly. Research reviewed in Forbes shows that lottery winners, on average, report higher life satisfaction than non-winners, and bankruptcy rates among them remain relatively low. Money does not eliminate personal problems, but careful planning, financial advice, and privacy protection can help winners secure their future.
For the Missouri and Texas winners, the excitement is just beginning, but so is the responsibility. Whether they take the lump sum or the annuity, how they handle their share of the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history will shape the rest of their lives.
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